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THE  LIBRARY 

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RECOLLECTIONS  OF  A 
CONFEDERATE  STAFF  OFFICER 


RECOLLECTIONS 

OF  A 

CONFEDERATE 
STAFF  OFFICER. 

BY 

GEN.  G.  MOXLEY  SORREL^ 

Lieutenant-Colonel  and  Chief  of  Staff,  Longstreet's 1st 
Army  Corps;  Brigadier-General  commanding 
Sorrel's  Brigade,  A.  P.  Hill's  3rd 
Army  Corps,  Army  of  Nor- 
thern  Virginia 

SECOND  EDITION 


WITH  INTRODUCTION  BY 

SENATOR  JOHN  W.  DANIEL 

THE  NEALE  PUBLISHING  COMPANY 

440  FOURTH  AVENUE        NEW  YORK 
1917 


Copyright,  1905,  by 
THE  NEALE  PUBLISHING  COMPANY 


TO  MY  WIFE 

This  Volume  is  affectionately 
DEDICATED 

In  illness  and  tedious  convalescence  it  was  she   who   sug- 
gested  these  reminiscences  of  the  past,  as  a  solace, 
giving  me  cheerful  encouragement  and  material 
assistance  in  their  preparation,  for  which 
my  grateful  thanks  are  ever  hers. 


CONTENTS 


PAGE 


Introduction 13 

CHAPTER 

I     Battle  of  Manassas,  July  21,  1861 23 

II    After  Manassas  at  Centerville 35 

III  Reminiscences  and  Horses 45 

IV  Sketches 53 

V    Our  National  Hymn 61 

VI  The  Peninsula  and  Battle  of  Williamsburg,  May  5, 

1862 65 

VII  Battle  of  Seven  Pines,  May  31,  1862     ....     71 

VIII  Battles  of  the  Chickahominy,  June  26  to  July  2,  1862    76 

IX    Rivalry  and  More  Reminiscences 87 

X  Second  Battle  of  Manassas,  August  29  and  30,  1862    94 

XI  Battles  of  South  Mountain  (Boonsboro  Gap)  and 
Sharpsburg   (Antietam),   September  14  and  17, 

1862 103 

XII    Battle  of  Sharpsburg,  Continued no 

XIII  Battle  of  Sharpsburg,  Concluded 115 

XIV  Our  Personnel  —  Visitors 120 

XV    The  Staff 124 

XVI    Events  Preceding  Fredericksburg 129 

XVII  Battle  of  Fredericksburg,  December  13,  1862     .     .   136 

XVIII  After  Fredericksburg  —  Reminiscences     ....  143 

XIX  To  South  Virginia  for  Supplies     .     .     .     1     .     .  150 

XX    Preparing  for  Gettysburg 156 

XXI  Battle  of  Gettysburg,  July  I,  2,  3,  1863      .     .     .     .163 

XXII    Gettysburg  Aftermath 173 

XXIII    In  Virginia  Again 179 


CONTENTS 

CHAPTER  PAGE 

XXIV    Longstreet  to  Reinforce  Bragg 184 

XXV    Battle  of  Chickamauga,  September  20,  1863    .     .     .   188 
XXVI    Chattanooga  —  Incidents 195 

XXVII    The  East  Tennessee  Campaign,  November,  1863,  to 

April,  1864 204 

XXVIII  The  East  Tennessee  Campaign,  Continued     .     .     .  212 

XXIX  At  Home  in  Savannah  —  Sketches 220 

XXX  Battle  of  the  Wilderness,  May  6,  1864     ....  228 

XXXI  Coincidences  —  Longstreet's   Successor      .     .     .     .240 

XXXII    Battle  of  Spottsylvania  C.  H.,  May  10  and  12,  and 

Cold  Harbor,  June  3,  1864 244 

XXXIII  The  siege  of  Petersburg  June,  1864,  to  March,  1865  254 

XXXIV  Longstreet's  Return  —  Farewell  to  Lee     ....  265 
Appendix 283 


RECOLLECTIONS  OF  A 
CONFEDERATE  STAFF  OFFICER 


INTRODUCTION 


BY 


JOHN  W.  DANIEL 

Formerly  Major  and  Assistant  Adjutant-General 
Early's  Division,  Second  Corps,  A.  N.  V. 

A  few  months  ago  I  entered  a  room  where  a  group 
of  five  or  six  gentlemen  were  seated  around  a  table 
in  conversation.  As  I  took  my  seat  to  join  them, 
one  of  the  number,  a  distinguished  Northern  Sena- 
tor, of  high  cultivation  and  who  is  a  great  reader 
of  history,  made  this  remark  to  his  companions: 
"  The  Army  of  Northern  Virginia  was  in  my  opin- 
ion the  strongest  body  of  men  of  equal  numbers 
that  ever  stood  together  upon  the  earth."  As  an 
ex-Confederate  soldier  I  could  not  feel  otherwise  than 
pleased  to  hear  such  an  observation  from  a  gentle- 
man of  the  North  who  was  a  student  of  military  his- 
tory. As  the  conversation  continued  there  seemed  to 
be  a  general  concurrence  in  the  opinion  he  stated,  and 
I  doubt  if  any  man  of  intelligence  who  would  give 
sedate  consideration  to  the  subject,  would  express  a 
different  sentiment. 

The  Army  of  the  Potomac,  the  valiant  and  power- 
ful antagonist  of  the  Army  of  Northern  Virginia, 
was  indeed  of  much  larger  numbers,  and  better 
equipped  and  fed ;  but  it  would  have  nevertheless  failed 
but  for  its  high  quality  of  soldiership  which  are  by 
none  more  respected  than  by  its  former  foes.  Both 
armies  were  worthy  of  any  steel  that  was  ever  forged 

13 


I4  INTRODUCTION 

for  the  business  of  war,  and  when  General  Grant  in 
his  "  Memoirs  "  describes  the  meeting  after  the  sur- 
render of  the  officers  of  both  sides  around  the  McLean 
House,  he  says  that  they  seemed  to  "  enjoy  the  meet- 
ing as  much  as  though  they  had  been  friends  separated 
for  a  long  time  while  fighting  battles  under  the  same 
flag."  He  prophesied  in  his  last  illness  that  "  we 
are  on  the  eve  of  a  new  era  when  there  is  to  be  great 
harmony  between  the  Federal  and  Confederate." 

That  era  came  to  meridian  when  the  Federal  Gov- 
ernment magnanimously  returned  to  the  States  of 
the  South  the  captured  battle-flags  of  their  regiments. 
Tihe  story  of  the  war  will  be  told  no  longer  at  sol- 
diers' camp-fires  with  the  feelings  of  bygone  years, 
or  with  even  stifled  reproach,  but  solely  with  a  design 
to  cultivate  friendship  and  to  unfold  the  truth  as  to 
one  of  the  most  stupendous  conflicts  of  arms  that  ever 
evoked  the  heroism  of  the  human  race. 

"  Recollections  of  a  Confederate  Staff  Officer,"  by 
Brigadier-General  G.  Moxley  Sorrel,  of  the  Army  of 
Northern  Virginia,  is  a  valuable  contribution  to  this 
great  history.  Its  author  received  his  "baptism  of 
fire"  in  the  First  Battle  of  Manassas,  July  21,  1861, 
while  serving  on  the  staff  of  Brigadier-General  James 
Longstreet  as  a  volunteer  aid,  with  the  complimentary 
rank  of  captain. 

The  forces  under  General  Beauregard  at  Bull  Run 
were  known  at  that  time  as  "  The  Army  of  the  Poto- 
mac." The  name  of  the  antagonist  of  the  Federal 
"  Army  of  the  Potomac  "  was  soon  changed  to  the 
"  Army  of  Northern  Virginia  " ;  and  Longstreet,  the 
senior  brigadier,  became  major-general  and  then  lieu- 
tenant-general. 

Sorrel  followed  the  fortunes  of  his  chief,  serving 


INTRODUCTION  15 

as  adjutant-general  of  his  brigade,  division,  and  corps, 
with  rank  successively  as  captain,  major,  and  lieutenant- 
colonel,  and  distinguished  himself  many  times  by  his 
gallantry  and  efficiency.  During  the  siege  of  Peters- 
burg the  tardy  promotion  which  he  had  long  deserved 
and  for  which  he  had  been  time  and  again  recom- 
mended, came  to  him  and  he  succeeded  Brigadier-Gen- 
eral Girardey,  a  gallant  soldier,  who  had  been  killed  in 
battle,  as  commander  of  a  brigade  in  Mahone's  di- 
vision, A.  P.  Hill's  Third  Corps. 

When  promoted  he  showed  the  right  spirit  by  mak- 
ing a  faithful  and  brave  courier  his  aide-de-camp. 
As  a  general,  as  well  as  while  on  the  staff,  Sorrel  often 
had  his  "  place  near  the  flashing  of  the  guns."  At 
Sharpsburg  he  leaped  from  his  horse,  with  Fairfax, 
Goree,  Manning,  and  Walton,  of  Longstreet's  staff, 
to  serve  as  cannoneers  at  the  guns  of  the  Washington 
Artillery,  whose  soldiers  had  been  struck  down.  While 
he  was  carrying  a  message  to  a  brigade  commander 
his  horse  was  shot  under  him,  and  still  later  on  the 
same  field  a  fragment  of  a  shell  struck  him  senseless 
and  he  was  for  a  while  disabled.  He  passed  through 
the  maelstrom  of  Gettysburg,  here  and  there  upon  that 
field  of  blood;  the  hind  legs  of  his  horse  were  swept 
away  by  a  cannon  ball,  and  at  the  same  time  he  and 
Latrobe,  of  Longstreet's  staff,  were  carrying  in  their 
arms  saddles  taken  from  horses  slain  under  them. 

At  the  Wilderness,  May  6,  1864,  he  was  at  the  side 
of  his  chief  when  that  officer  was  badly  wounded,  and 
when  General  Jenkins,  of  South  Carolina,  and  Captain 
Dobie  of  the  staff  were  killed.  He  won  his  general's 
wreath  that  day,  although  it  was  some  time  before  it 
reached  him.  At  the  crisis  when  Longstreet's  corps 
was  going  to  the  rescue  he  was  entrusted  with  mar- 


16  INTRODUCTION 

shalling  three  brigades  to  flank  the  advancing  forces  of 
General  Hancock.  Moving  forward  with  the  line  of 
the  Twelfth  Virginia  Infantry,  of  Mahone's  brigade, 
he  endeavored  to  take  its  colors  as  it  advanced  to  the 
onset,  but  Ben  May,  the  stout-hearted  standard-bearer, 
refused  him  that  honor  and  himself  carried  them  to 
victory.  When  this  battle  was  over  General  Lee  sa- 
luted him  as  "  General  Sorrel." 

He  was  wounded  in  the  leg  while  commanding  his 
brigade  on  the  right  of  the  Confederate  line  near 
Petersburg;  and  again  he  was  shot  in  the  lungs  at 
Hatcher's  Run  in  January,  1865,  the  same  action  in 
which  fell  the  brave  General  John  Pegram,  then  com- 
manding Early's  old  division. 

During  the  illness  resulting  from  this  wound,  Gen- 
eral Sorrel  was  cared  for  by  relatives  in  Roanoke 
County,  Virginia,  and  having  recovered  sufficiently 
returned  to  the  field.  He  was  in  Lynchburg,  Virginia, 
on  his  way  back  to  his  command  when  the  surrender 
at  Appomattox  ended  the  career  of  the  Army  of  North- 
ern Virginia. 

Scarcely  any  figure  in  that  army  was  more  famil- 
iar to  its  soldiers  than  that  of  General  Sorrel,  and  cer- 
tainly none  more  so  to  the  soldiers  of  the  First  Corps. 
Tall,  slender,  and  graceful,  with  a  keen  dark  eye,  a 
trim  military  figure,  and  an  engaging  countenance,  he 
was  a  dashing  and  fearless  rider,  and  he  attracted  at- 
tention in  march  and  battle  by  his  constant  devotion 
to  his  duties  as  adjutant-general,  and  became  as  well 
known  as  any  of  the  commanders. 

General  Sorrel  has  not  attempted  a  military  history. 
He  has  simply  related  the  things  he  saw  and  of  which 
he  was  a  part.  He  says  of  his  writings,  "  that  they 
are  rough  jottings  from  memory  without  access  to 


INTRODUCTION  17 

any  data  or  books  of  reference  and  with  little  attempt 
at  sequence."  What  his  book  will  therefore  lack  in 
the  precision  and  detail  as  to  military  strategy  or  move- 
ment, will  be  compensated  for  by  the  naturalness  and 
freshness  which  are  found  in  the  free,  picturesque,  and 
salient  character  of  his  work. 

General  Sorrel  was  of  French  descent  on  his  father's 
side.  His  grandfather,  Antoine  Sorrel  Des  Riviere, 
had  been  a  colonel  of  engineers  in  the  French  Army, 
and  afterwards  held  estates  in  San  Domingo,  from 
which  he  was  driven  by  the  insurrection  of  the  negroes 
in  the  early  part  of  the  nineteenth  century.  He  then 
moved  to  Louisiana. 

His  father,  Francis  Sorrel,  became  a  successful  busi- 
ness man  in  Savannah,  Georgia,  and  his  mother  was  a 
lady  of  Virginia.  If  he  inherited  from  one  those  dis- 
tinctively American  qualities  which  were  so  attractive 
in  his  character,  we  can  but  fancy  that  he  inherited  in 
some  degree  at  least  from  his  sire  the  delicate  touch 
with  the  pen  which  is  so  characteristic  of  the  French. 
They  have  written  more  entertaining  memoirs  than 
any  other  people,  and  this  memoir  of  General  Sorrel 
is  full  of  sketches,  incidents,  anecdotes,  and  of  vivid 
portraitures  and  scenes  which  remind  the  reader  no 
little  of  the  military  literature  of  the  French. 

No  military  writer  has  yet  undertaken  to  produce 
a  complete  history  of  either  the  Army  of  the  Poto- 
mac or  the  Army  of  Northern  Virginia.  Indeed,  it 
has  scarce  been  practicable  to  write  such  a  history. 
The  rolls  of  the  two  armies  have  not  yet  been  pub- 
lished, and  while  the  War  Records  have  furnished  a 
great  body  of  most  valuable  matter  and  there  are 
many  volumes  of  biography  and  autobiography  which 
shed  light  on  campaigns  and  battles,  the  deposit  of  his- 


18  INTRODUCTION 

torical  material  will  not  be  finished  before  the  whole 
generation  who  fought  the  war  has  passed  from  earth. 
This  volume  will  be  useful  to  the  historian  in  giving 
him  an  insight  to  the  very  image  and  body  of  the 
times.  It  will  carry  him  to  the  general's  headquar- 
ters and  from  there  to  the  picket-line ;  from  the  kitchen 
camp-fire  and  baking-oven  to  the  hospital  and  ordnance 
wagon ;  from  the  devices  of  the  commissary  and  quar- 
ter-master to  the  trenches  in  the  battlefield;  from  the 
long  march  to  the  marshalled  battle  line;  from  the 
anxieties  of  the  rear-guard  of  the  retreat  to  the  stern 
array  of  the  charging  columns.  He  will  find  some 
graphic  accounts  of  leading  characters,  such  as  Long- 
street,  Ewell,  D.  H.  Hill,  A.  P.  Hill,  Jeb  Stuart,  Early, 
Anderson,  Mahone,  Van  Dorn,  Polk,  Bragg,  and  many 
others  who  shone  in  the  lists  of  the  great  tourney. 
The  private  soldier  is  justly  recognized,  and  appears 
in  his  true  light  all  along  the  line,  of  which  he  was 
the  enduring  figure.  Lee,  great  and  incomparable, 
shines  as  he  always  does,  in  the  endearing  majesty  of 
his  matchless  character  and  genius. 

General  Sorrel's  book  is  written  in  the  temper  and 
spirit  which  we  might  expect  of  the  accomplished 
and  gallant  soldier  that  he  was.  It  is  without  rancor, 
as  he  himself  declares,  and  it  is  without  disposition 
unduly  to  exalt  one  personage  or  belittle  another.  It 
bespeaks  the  catholic  mind  of  an  honest  man.  It  tells 
things  as  he  saw  them,  and  he  was  one  who  did  his 
deed  from  the  highest  and  purest  motives. 

The  staff  of  the  Army  of  Northern  Virginia  (of 
which  G.  M.  Sorrel,  assistant  adjutant-general,  was 
a  bright,  particular  star)  was  for  the  most  part  an 
improvised  affair,  as  for  the  most  part  was  the  whole 
Confederate  Army,  and  indeed  the  Federal  Army  was 


INTRODUCTION  19 

almost  as  much  so.  It  showed,  as  did  the  line  of 
civilians  turned  quickly  into  soldiers,  the  aptitude  of 
our  American  people  for  military  service  and  accom- 
plishment. Even  the  younger  officers  of  military  train- 
ing were  needed  in  armies  of  raw  and  inexperienced 
recruits  for  many  commands.  The  staff  had  to  be 
made  up  for  the  most  part  of  alert  young  men,  some 
of  them  yet  in  their  teens,  and  it  is  remarkable  that 
they  were  so  readily  found  and  so  well  performed 
their  duties. 

At  twenty-two  years  of  age  Sorrel  was  a  clerk  in 
a  Savannah  bank,  and  a  private  in  a  volunteer  com- 
pany of  Savannah.  He  slipped  away  from  his  busi- 
ness to  see  the  bombardment  of  Fort  Sumter  in  April, 
1 86 1,  and  a  little  later  wre  then  find  him  at  his  father's 
country  estate  some  ten  miles  from  Manassas  Junc- 
tion, looking  forward  to  a  second  lieutenancy  as  the 
fulfilment  of  his  then  ambition. 

An  introduction  from  Col.  Thomas  Jordan,  the 
adjutant-general  of  Beauregard,  to  General  Longstreet 
fixed  his  career  with  that  officer,  and  he  was  by  his 
side  transacting  his  business  and  carrying  his  orders 
from  the  start  to  well-nigh  the  finish.  On  the  Pen- 
insula, and  in  the  trenches  at  Yorktown,  at  Williams- 
burg  and  Seven  Pines,  in  the  Seven  Days  Battle  around 
Richmond,  at  Second  Manassas  and  Sharpsburg,  at 
Suffolk  in  southeast  Virginia,  at  Gettysburg,  Chick- 
amauga,  at  Knoxville,  at  the  Wilderness,  and  in  many 
combats  along  the  Richmond  and  Petersburg  lines, 
General  Sorrel  shared  in  many  adventures  and  was  a 
part  of  many  matters  of  great  pith  and  moment. 
Like  Sandy  Pendleton,  the  adjutant  of  Jackson,  of 
Ewell,  and  of  Early  as  commanders  of  the  Second 
Corps  of  the  Army  of  Northern  Virginia,  and  like 


20  INTRODUCTION 

W.  H.  Palmer,  of  Richmond,  the  adjutant  of  A.  P. 
Hill,  he  had  no  special  preparation  for  his  military 
career;  and  all  three  of  these  valuable  officers,  like 
many  others  who  might  be  mentioned,  are  simply  il- 
lustrations of  the  fine  inherent  qualities  that  pertain 
to  the  scions  of  a  free  people. 

I  have  not  written  this  introduction  in  the  hope 
that  I  could  add  anything  to  the  attractiveness  of 
General  Sorrel's  recollections,  nor  have  I  undertaken 
to  edit  them  or  to  pass  upon  the  opinions  which  he 
expressed  concerning  men  or  things  or  battles.  My 
part  is  simply  that  of  a  friend  who  belonged  also  to 
the  staff  of  the  Army  of  Northern  Virginia,  and  of 
one  who,  from  opportunities  to  observe  General  Sorrel 
on  many  occasions  and  to  know  him  personally,  learned 
to  honor  and  admire  him.  I  deem  it  fitting,  however, 
to  say  that  in  some  respects  I  differ  from  General  Sor- 
rel's opinions  and  would  vary  some  of  his  observations 
respecting  Ewell,  Stuart,  Early,  and  a  few  other  con- 
spicuous leaders. 

"  Fortunate  indeed  is  the  man  who  like  General 
Sorrel  is  entitled  to  remind  those  around  his  death- 
bed that  he  did  his  best  to  do  his  duty  and  to  serve 
his  country  with  heart  and  soul.  The  records  of  his 
life  tell  us  how  well,  how  faithfully  he  did  serve  her, 
and  if  anything  can  console  you  and  others  for  his 
loss  it  must  be  that  fact." 

These  are  the  words  of  Field  Marshal  Wolseley, 
written  to  Mrs.  Sorrel,  the  widow  of  the  General  upon 
his  death  at  "  The  Barrens  "  near  Roanoke,  Va.,  the 
home  of  his  brother,  Dr.  Francis  Sorrel. 

They  are  worthy  of  repetition  in  connection  with 
General  Sorrel's  name  by  reason  of  their  just  esti- 
mate of  his  worth  as  a  patriot  and  a  soldier,  and  of 


INTRODUCTION  21 

the  high  spirit  which  they  breathe;  and  that  they  are 
uttered  by  a  soldier  and  a  man  of  such  character  and 
ability  as  Field  Marshal  Wolseley  impresses  all  the 
more  their  inherent  merit. 

They  better  introduce  the  volume  of  General  Sor- 
rel's composition  than  anything  I  can  say,  for  they 
reveal  in  short  compass  the  nature  of  the  man,  the 
principle  that  actuated  his  life,  and  the  estimate  formed 
of  him  by  an  eminent  soldier  who  had  no  partial  re- 
lation to  him  or  his  deeds. 

JOHN  W.  DANIEL. 
WASHINGTON,  D.  C,  May  i,  1905. 


RECOLLECTIONS  OF  A  CONFEDER- 
ATE STAFF  OFFICER 

CHAPTER  I 
BATTLE  OF  MANASSAS,  JULY  21,  1861 

Forbears    and    Home    at    Savannah  —  Fort    Sumter    attacked  — 
Hostilities  begin  —  Leave  for  Virginia  —  Visit  to  my  father 

—  Beauregard's   camp   at   Manassas  —  Colonel   Jordan  —  In- 
troduced  to   General   Longstreet  —  Sketch  —  General    Stuart 

—  General  Johnston  —  The   battle  —  Enemy   defeated  —  Pur- 
suit stopped  —  March  to  Centerville  —  Stonewall  Jackson  — 
Prince  Napoleon  —  the  review  —  Colonel  Skinner  —  His  Ex- 
ploits. 

My  forbears  were  French  on  my  father's  side.  His 
father,  Antoine  Sorrel  des  Riviere,  Colonel  du  Genie 
(Engineer  Corps)  in  the  French  Army,  was  on  his 
estates  in  the  island  of  San  Domingo  when  the  bloody 
insurrection  of  the  blacks  broke  out  at  the  opening  of 
the  century.  He  had  the  tragic  horror  of  witnessing 
the  massacre  of  many  relatives  and  friends.  His  prop- 
erty was  destroyed,  and  his  life  barely  saved  by  con- 
cealment and  flight  to  Cuba,  thence  to  Louisiana,  where 
a  refuge  was  found  among  friendly  kindred.  There 
he  died  at  a  great  age. 

His  son  Francis,  my  father,  was  saved  from  the 
rage  of  bloodthirsty  blacks  by  the  faithful  devotion 
of  the  household  slaves,  and  some  years  later  succeeded 
in  reaching  Maryland,  where  he  was  educated.  He 

23 


24  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  A 

married  in  Virginia,  engaging  in  business  in  the  early 
part  of  the  century  at  Savannah,  Georgia. 

My  maternal  great-grandfather,  Alvin  Moxley,  was 
from  Westmoreland  County,  Virginia.  He  was  one 
of  the  signers  of  what  is  known  as  the  Richard  Henry 
Lee  Bill  of  Rights,  1765,  the  first  recorded  protest  in 
America  against  taxation  without  representation,  and 
which  twelve  years  later  led  directly  to  the  Revolu- 
tionary War.  The  original  document  is  now  pre- 
served and  framed  in  the  Virginia  Historical  Society 
at  Richmond. 

Death  bereft  my  father  of  his  wife  in  time's  flight. 
An  eminent  merchant,  successful  and  prominent,  we 
find  him  in  the  Civil  War  in  health  and  ease,  happy 
in  the  love  of  many  children  and  the  esteem  of  hosts 
of  friends.  As  a  child  he  had  seen  some  horrors  of 
the  insurrection,  but  never  could  he  be  persuaded  to 
speak  of  them,  so  deep  and  painful  were  even  their  dis- 
tant memories.  At  the  culmination  of  the  political 
troubles  in  1861  I  was  a  young  chap  just  twenty-two, 
at  home  in  my  native  city,  Savannah,  peacefully  em- 
ployed with  the  juniors  of  the  banking  force  of  the 
Central  Railroad. 

When  Sumter  was  bombarded  at  Charleston  in 
April,  I  slipped  away  for  a  day  or  two  and  witnessed 
the  scenes  of  wild  excitement  that  attended  its  fall.  It 
spread  everywhere,  and  like  all  the  youth  of  the  coun- 
try I  was  quickly  drawn  in.  For  a  year  or  two  before, 
like  many  of  my  associates  in  Savannah,  I  was  a  mem- 
ber, a  private,  of  the  Georgia  Hussars,  a  fine  volunteer 
cavalry  company,  with  a  creditable  history  of  almost 
a  century. 

On  the  secession  of  Georgia,  now  soon  following, 
Fort  Pulaski  was  seized  and  the  various  military  com- 


CONFEDERATE  STAFF  OFFICER        25 

mands  did  their  tour  of  duty  there,  the  Hussars  among 
them.  . 

This  was  my  first  service.  The  company  also  imme- 
diately offered  itself  to  the  Confederate  Government 
just  organized  at  Montgomery,  Alabama,  and  was 
eager  to  get  into  the  field;  but  delay  ensued,  although 
it  was  mustered  in  for  thirty  days'  service  on  the  coast 
of  Skidaway  Island,  near  Savannah.  There  I  served 
again  as  private  until  mustered  out.  A  Confederate 
army  was  being  collected  in  Virginia  under  Beaure- 
gard,  the  capital  having  been  settled  in  Richmond.  Be- 
coming impatient  of  inaction  at  Savannah,  our  com- 
pany apparently  not  being  wanted,  I  decided  to  go  to 
Virginia  and  seek  employment  there. 

Richmond  looked  like  a  camp  when  I  arrived,  in 
July.  It  was  full  of  officers  in  their  smart  uniforms, 
all  busy  with  their  duties,  and  the  greatest  efforts  were 
made  for  equipping  and  arming  the  men  now  pouring 
in  from  the  South.  They  were  posted  first  in  camps 
of  instruction,  where,  by  means  of  younger  officers, 
they  attained  some  drill  before  being  sent  to  the  army. 
How  happy  should  I  be  could  I  get  a  commission  as 
second  lieutenant  and  plunge  into  work  with  the  men. 

My  brother,  Dr.  Francis  Sorrel,  had  just  arrived 
from  California  and  was  gazetted  to  a  high  position 
in  the  Surgeon-General's  Department.  He  aided  me 
all  possible,  but  I  got  nothing,  and  so  about  July  15, 
my  cash  running  down,  betook  myself  to  my  father's 
pretty  country  place  at  Greenwich,  about  ten  miles 
north  of  Warrenton,  Fauquier  County.  It  was  also 
about  ten  miles  from  Manassas  Junction,  the  head- 
quarters of  General  Beauregard,  now  in  command  of 
the  army  that  was  to  fight  McDowell  and  defend  Rich- 
mond. My  father  said  it  was  unfortunate  I  had  not 


26  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  A 

come  a  day  or  two  earlier,  because  he  had  driven  his 
daughters  across  the  country  for  a  visit  to  the  camps, 
where  they  met  many  friends.  Among  these  was  Col. 
Thomas  Jordon,  the  all-powerful  adjutant-general  of 
Beauregard's  army,  then  termed  the  Army  of  the  Po- 
tomac. Many  years  before,  Jordon,  when  a  lieutenant, 
had  been  stationed  in  Savannah,  and  enjoyed  my 
father's  generous  hospitality.  This  was  my  oppor- 
tunity. 

I  asked  for  just  a  few  lines  of  introduction  to  Jordon, 
and  a  horse  out  of  the  stables.  I  knew  them  well  and 
could  get  a  good  mount  for  the  field.  My  dear  father 
willingly  acceded,  and  parted  from  me  cheerfully  but 
with  moist  eyes.  On  the  way  to  the  camp  I  came  up 
with  Meredith,  a  relation  (not  long  ago  United  States 
Congressman  from  Virginia),  and  soon  I  found  Colonel 
Jordon.  He  had  been  doing  an  enormous  amount  of 
work  and  was  almost  exhausted. 

Jordon  was  considered  a  brilliant  staff  officer,  and 
justly  so;  but  there  appeared  something  lacking  in  his 
make-up  as  a  whole  that  disappointed  his  friends.  At 
all  events,  his  subsequent  military  career  failed  and  he 
sank  out  of  prominent  notice.  He  was  kind  to  me,  read 
my  note,  said  nothing  could  be  done  then ;  but  — "  Come 
again  to-morrow." 

This  turned  me  loose  in  the  camp.  The  soldiers 
from  the  Valley  under  J.  E.  Johnston  and  J.  E.  B. 
Stuart  began  to  make  an  appearance  in  small  numbers, 
principally  cavalry.  We  slept  that  night  at  Meredith's, 
about  three  miles  from  camp.  Jordon,  the  next  day, 
was  still  unable  to  do  anything  for  me,  and  I  began  to 
be  doubtful  of  success,  but  could  at  least  go  as  a  private 
with  a  good  horse  under  me. 

Again  at  Meredith's  and  awakened  very  early  by 


CONFEDERATE  STAFF  OFFICER       27 

cannon,  we  were  up  in  a  moment  and  galloping  to 
Beauregard's. 

There  I  was  made  happy  on  the  2ist  day  of  July. 
The  adjutant-general  handed  me  three  lines  of  intro- 
duction to  Longstreet,  commanding  a  brigade  at  Black- 
burn's Ford  several  miles  distant.  With  a  good-by  to 
Meredith  I  was  swiftly  off.  Approaching  the  ford, 
shot  and  shell  were  flying  close  overhead ;  and  feeling  a 
bit  nervous,  my  first  time  under  fire,  I  began  to  inquire 
what  folly  had  brought  me  into  such  disturbing  scenes. 

The  feeling  passed,  however,  and  Longstreet,  who 
had  called  on  Beauregard  for  staff  officers,  received  me 
cordially. 

His  acting  adjutant-general,  Lieutenant  Frank  Armi- 
stead,  a  West  Point  graduate  and  of  some  service  in 
the  United  States  Army,  was  ordered  to  announce  me  to 
the  brigade  as  captain  and  volunteer  aide-de-camp. 
Brig.-Gen.  James  Longstreet  was  then  a  most  striking 
figure,  about  forty  years  of  age,  a  soldier  every  inch, 
and  very  handsome,  tall  and  well  proportioned,  strong 
and  active,  a  superb  horseman  and  with  an  unsurpassed 
soldierly  bearing,  his  features  and  expression  fairly 
matched ;  eyes,  glint  steel  blue,  deep  and  piercing ;  a  full 
brown  beard,  head  well  shaped  and  poised.  The  worst 
feature  was  the  mouth,  rather  coarse ;  it  was  partly  hid- 
den, however,  by  his  ample  beard.  His  career  had  not 
been  without  mark.  Graduating  from  West  Point  in 
1842,  he  was  assigned  to  the  Fourth  Infantry,  the  regi- 
ment which  Grant  joined  one  year  later.  The  Mexican 
War  coming  on,  Longstreet  had  opportunity  of  service 
and  distinction  which  he  did  not  fail  to  make  the  most 
of;  wounds  awaited  him,  and  brevets  to  console  such 
hurts.  After  peace  with  Mexico  he  was  in  the  Indian 
troubles,  had  a  long  tour  of  duty  in  Texas,  and  eventu- 


28  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  A 

ally  received  the  appointment  of  major  and  paymaster. 
It  was  from  that  rank  and  duty  that  he  went  at  the 
call  of  his  State  to  arm  and  battle  for  the  Confederacy. 
History  will  tell  how  well  he  did  it.  He  brought  to 
our  army  a  high  reputation  as  an  energetic,  capable, 
and  experienced  soldier.  At  West  Point  he  was  fast 
friends  with  Grant,  and  was  his  best  man  at  the  latter's 
marriage.  Grant,  true  as  steel  to  his  friends,  never  in 
all  his  subsequent  marvelous  career  failed  Longstreet 
when  there  was  need. 

Such  was  the  brigadier-general  commanding  four 
regiments  of  Virginia  infantry,  the  First,  Eleventh, 
Seventeenth,  and  Twenty-fourth,  and  a  section  of  the 
Washington  Artillery  of  New  Orleans.  The  Eight- 
eenth Virginia  Infantry  was  afterwards  added. 

Three  days  previously,  Longstreet,  just  joined  his 
command,  had  opportunity  of  showing  his  mettle.  His 
position  at  the  ford  was  fiercely  assailed  by  the  Federals, 
and  his  coolness,  good  disposition,  and  contagious  cour- 
age brought  about  their  defeat,  and  was  the  beginning 
of  that  devotion  which  his  men  gave  him  up  to  Ap- 
pomattox.  His  staff  officers  at  the  time  were  Lieu- 
tenant Armistead,  Lieutenant  Manning  of  Mississippi, 
ordnance  officer;  Captain  Walton  of  Mississippi,  aid; 
Captain  Goree  of  Texas,  aid ;  and  some  quartermasters 
and  commissaries  detailed  from  the  regiments. 

The  army  had  scarcely  made  an  attempt  yet  at  good 
organization. 

At  Manassas  Junction,  while  waiting  on  Jordon,  I 
first  saw  Gen.  Joseph  E.  Johnston  and  J.  E.  B.  Stuart. 
The  first  was  full  bearded,  dusty,  and  worn  from  long 
marching;  a  high-bred,  stern-looking  soldier  of  fault- 
less seat  and  bearing  in  the  saddle.  I  had  the  good 
fortune  to  know  him  well  and  most  happily  in  the  com- 


CONFEDERATE  STAFF  OFFICER        29 

ing  years.  Once  long  after  the  close  of  the  war  I 
was  chatting  with  him  in  his  best  humor.  We  were 
speaking  of  his  varied  military  life  and  the  several 
wounds  he  had  received  in  Mexico,  with  Indians,  and  in 
the  recent  Confederate  War.  He  had  many,  and  as  he 
sat  in  face  of  me  the  General's  splendid,  dome-like 
head  was  something  to  admire.  Quite  bald,  it  was 
scarred  in  several  places,  and  looking  at  the  mark  of 
an  ugly  gash  I  inquired,  "  And,  General,  where  did  you 
get  that  one?  "  The  smile  that  irradiated  that  strong, 
expressive  face  was  brilliant  and  contagious  as  he  an- 
swered, "  I  got  that,  sir,  out  of  a  cherry  tree !  "  and 
then  followed  a  laughing  account  of  what  a  fall  he  had, 
and  how  he  had  been  chased  by  the  farmer. 

Stuart,  red  bearded,  ruddy  faced,  alert  and  ever 
active,  was  dirtier  even  than  Johnston;  but  there  stood 
the  tireless  cavalryman,  the  future  right  arm  of  the 
great  Lee,  the  eyes  and  ears  to  his  army.  Alas !  that  his 
pure  soldier's  life,  crowned  with  such  splendid  fame, 
should  have  ended  so  needlessly,  late  in  the  war,  by  a 
stray  shot. 

I  should  say  here  there  is  to  be  no  attempt  at  describ- 
ing battles  —  the  military  works  are  full  of  them.  I 
shall  content  myself  with  bare  outlines,  and  some  ob- 
servations of  men  and  things,  adding  such  incidents  and 
personal  happenings  as  may,  I  hope,  prove  of  inter- 
est. 

Longstreet's  brigade  had  practically  no  part  in  the 
battle  of  Manassas.  It  sustained  some  desultory  artil- 
lery fire,  and  there  was  a  demonstration  against  it,  but 
it  amounted  to  nothing.  Blackburn's  Ford  was  on  the 
right,  where  the  attack  was  expected,  but  McDowell 
found  his  way  to  Beauregard's  left  and  nearly  smashed 
him  until  Johnston  and  Jackson  "  ventre  a  terre  "  and 


30  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  A 

turned  the  doubtful  tide  of  battle  into  a  ruinous  rout  of 
the  enemy. 

It  was  late  in  the  afternoon,  but  we  soon  heard  of 
it  at  our  ford,  and  Longstreet,  waiting  for  no  man,  was 
immediately  in  pursuit.  He  was  halted  first  by  Bon- 
ham,  who  ranked  him,  to  permit  his  brigade  to  take  the 
lead.  Then  resuming  the  march  hot-footed,  after  the 
flying  foe,  we  were  again  stopped,  this  time  by  Major 
Whiting,  of  Johnston's  staff,  with  orders  from  Beaure- 
gard  to  attempt  no  pursuit.  Painful  was  this  order. 
We  knew  the  Federals  were  in  full  flight,  and  we  had 
only  to  show  ourselves  to  bag  the  whole  outfit. 

We  dismounted  among  some  young  pines  to  await 
further  orders,  and  I  saw  Longstreet  in  a  fine  rage. 
He  dashed  his  hat  furiously  on  the  ground,  stamped, 
and  bitter  words  escaped  him.  However,  the  night  was 
on  us,  some  food  was  picked  up  by  hook  or  crook,  and 
we  slept  well  under  the  stars.  The  soundness  of  the 
order  stopping  pursuit  has  been  viewed  in  many  differ- 
ent ways,  and  I  shall  not  add  my  own  opinion,  except 
to  suggest  that  while  in  the  condition  of  our  army  it 
was  practically  impossible  to  seize  Washington,  it  was 
yet  the  proper  thing  to  keep  on  the  heels  of  those 
frightened  soldiers  until  they  reached  the  Potomac. 
Many  thousand  prisoners,  and  much  loot  and  stores, 
ammunition,  guns,  colors,  and  other  material  would 
have  fallen  into  our  hands. 

Next  day  the  field  and  highways  showed  the  terri- 
ble battle  that  had  raged,  and  the  ground  was  covered 
with  the  debris  of  the  panic-stricken  army.  Our  bri- 
gade moved  leisurely  on,  and  halted  for  some  time  at 
Centerville.  The  army  was  concentrated  in  the  neigh- 
borhood, and  about  Fairfax  Court  House  and  Fairfax 
Station,  our  headquarters  being  for  some  time  at  the 


former  place.  About  this  time  Longstreet  was  joined 
by  two  noted  scouts  and  rangers  whom  he  had  known 
in  Texas  —  the  celebrated  Frank  Terry  and  Tom  Lub- 
bock,  powerful  men,  both  of  them,  in  the  prime  of  life. 
Scouting  and  fighting  had  been  their  part  from  boy- 
hood. They  were  of  much  use  to  Longstreet.  From 
Fairfax  Court  House  and  vicinity  we  sent  regular  de- 
tails, called  the  advanced  forces,  to  occupy  Mason's 
and  Munson's  hills,  only  a  few  miles  from  Washington. 
At  night  the  dome  of  the  Capitol  could  be  seen  from 
those  positions,  lighted  up  with  great  splendor.  There 
was  sharp  sniping  in  front  of  the  hills,  and  Terry  and 
Lubbock  generally  bagged  their  man  apiece,  each  day, 
besides  bringing  in  valuable  information.  Both  men 
soon  returned  to  Texas  and  organized  a  regiment  of 
cavalry  in  the  Confederate  service  under  Terry.  It 
was  said  to  be  the  finest  body  of  horsemen  and  fighters 
imaginable,  and  subsequently  did  great  service  in  the 
West.  Terry  fell  among  them  at  their  head. 

It  was  while  we  lay  in  the  neighborhood  that  I 
saw  Prince  Jerome  Napoleon,  "  Plon  Plon."  It  seems 
he  was  making  a  short  visit  of  curiosity  (he  was  no 
friend  of  the  South),  and  was  at  Beauregard's  head- 
quarters some  distance  off. 

The  General  sent  notice  to  Longstreet  that  he  was 
coming  with  his  staff  and  guest  to  call  on  him,  and 
suggested  that  he  try  to  get  up  something  in  the  way 
of  a  small  review  of  our  best-clad  soldiers.  Long- 
street  started  me  off  at  once  to  borrow  a  regiment 
from  Stonewall  Jackson  and  one  from  D.  R.  Jones 
(South  Carolina),  both  commands  being  near  by.  The 
First  Virginia  Infantry,  the  Richmond  regiment,  was 
the  contingent  from  our  own  brigade.  I  soon  found 
myself  saluting  General  T.  J.  Jackson,  the  first  time  I 


32  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  A 

had  seen  the  soldier.  He  was  seated  in  a  low,  com- 
fortable chair  in  front  of  his  quarters,  quite  shabbily 
dressed,  but  neat  and  clean  —  little  military  ornament 
about  him.  It  was  the  eye  full  of  fire  and  the  firm,  set 
face  that  drew  attention.  His  hand  was  held  upright ; 
a  ball  at  the  recent  battle  had  cut  off  a  piece  of  his 
finger,  and  that  position  eased  it.  He  was  all  courtesy 
to  the  young  subaltern  awaiting  his  answer. 

"  Say  to  General  Longstreet,  with  my  compliments, 
that  he  shall  have  my  best-looking  regiment,  and  that 
immediately.  The  colonel  will  report  at  the  point  you 
may  designate."  This  done,  Jones  gave  up  his  best, 
some  good->looking  Carolinians,  with  palmetto  badges, 
and  then  spurring  back  to  meet  Beauregard  and  party 
to  guide  them  to  the  reviewing  ground,  he  presented  me 
to  His  Highness  the  Prince,  who,  well  mounted,  was 
riding  by  his  side.  I  could  not  keep  my  eyes  off  the 
Frenchman's  face.  It  was  almost  a  replica  of  the  great 
Napoleon,  his  uncle,  but  unpleasantly  so;  skin  pasty 
and  flabby,  bags  under  the  eyes,  and  beefy  all  over.  A 
large  man,  tall,  but  without  dignity  of  movement  or  at- 
titude. The  review  was  soon  over.  The  three  picked 
regiments,  with  a  good  band,  looked  well,  although  the 
Richmond  boys  were  a  bit  out  at  the  seat ;  but,  as  old 
Skinner,  the  Colonel,  said  to  the  Frenchman  as  they 
marched  by,  "  The  enemy  won't  see  that  part  of  them." 

The  spot  was  on  a  nice  piece  of  turf  near  an  old 
wooden  church,  and  we  had  gathered  a  few  refresh- 
ments for  the  occasion,  but  the  Prince  would  have 
nothing.  Coldly  and  impassively  he  raised  his  hat  in 
parting  salute,  entered  the  carriage  that  was  awaiting 
him,  and,  escorted  by  a  lieutenant  of  cavalry  and  a  half 
dozen  men  under  a  flag  of  truce,  we  willingly  sent  him 


CONFEDERATE  STAFF  OFFICER        33 

back  to  his  friends,  the  enemy.  On  returning  to  France 
he  published  what  ill  he  could  find  to  say  of  us.  "  Plon 
Plon's  "  abuse  was  not  to  hurt  or  disturb  honest  men 
with  brave  hearts. 

A  word  about  Old  Skinner,  Colonel  of  the  First 
Virginia.  He  was  an  old  Maryland  fox  hunter,  hand- 
some and  distinguished  looking,  and  had  lived  long  in 
France,  almost  domiciled  there.  He  was  connected 
with  many  of  the  best  people  of  Maryland  and  Vir- 
ginia, and  had  hosts  of  friends.  Fond  of  good  liquor, 
it  was  almost  every  night  that  he  was  a  bit  full,  and 
then  there  were  wild  scenes  with  his  well-known  hunter, 
who  could  do  anything  or  go  anywhere  with  the  Col- 
onel on  him.  Skinner  was  a  fine  swordsman,  and  had 
brought  from  France  a  long,  straight,  well-balanced 
double-edged  cuirassier's  saber.  In  his  cups  the  fine 
old  Colonel  would  swear  he  should  die  happy  could  he 
have  one  chance  to  use  that  steel  on  the  enemy. 

The  chance  came  and  Skinner  was  ready  for  it.  At 
the  second  battle  of  Manassas  a  battery  of  six  guns 
was  mauling  some  of  our  infantry  horribly.  His  regi- 
ment, the  gallant  First  Virginia,  was  thrown  at  it, 
"  Old  Fred,"  as  the  men  affectionately  called  him,  lead- 
ing well  in  advance.  Out  flashed  the  French  saber, 
and  he  was  among  the  gunners  in  a  trice.  His  execu- 
tion was  wonderful ;  sabering  right  and  left  he  seemed 
invulnerable,  but  down  he  came  at  last,  just  as  his  men 
swept  over  the  guns  in  a  fine  charge.  It  was  the  end 
of  the  Colonel's  soldiering,  but  although  frightfully 
wounded  in  the  chest  and  body  he  survived  for  many 
years.  So  lively  was  the  old  beau  sabreur,  that  only  a 
few  years  ago  he  came  to  New  York  to  fight  John 
Wise  because  of  some  fancied  slight  to  a  member  of  his 


34        CONFEDERATE  STAFF  OFFICER 

family  —  Wise,  too,  his  lifelong  friend!  As  there 
could  be  no  fighting,  Wise  had  to  do  some  nice  diplo- 
matic work  to  soothe  the  irate  Colonel  and  smooth  over 
the  affair. 


CHAPTER  II 

AFTER  MANASSAS  AT  CENTERVILLE 

Commissioned  as  captain  and  acting  adjutant-general  —  Pay  of 
officers  —  Assigned  to  Longstreet's  brigade  —  The  Ogle- 
thorpe  Infantry,  of  Savannah  —  Enemy  preparing  for  win- 
ter quarters  —  Beauregard  takes  command  in  West  —  Con- 
federate flag  —  Presentation  of  battle-flags  —  Starting  a  the- 
atre —  Georgia  Hussars  —  A  sleigh  ride. 

Something  must  now  be  said  as  to  what  happened 
to  me  several  weeks  after  the  Manassas  battle.  It 
will  be  remembered  I  was  a  volunteer  aid  with  the 
rank  by  courtesy,  but  no  pay.  When  I  saw  my  mess- 
mates taking  theirs  in  very  comfortably,  it  occurred  to 
me  I  should  make  another  effort  for  a  commission,  so  I 
wrote  my  application  to  the  Secretary  of  War  asking  to 
be  appointed  a  second  lieutenant,  C.  S.  A.,  and  assigned 
as  might  be  thought  proper.  Blushing  like  a  girl,  I 
asked  General  Longstreet  if  he  could  endorse  it  favor- 
ably. Glancing  hastily  at  the  paper,  he  said,  "  Cer- 
tainly," and  then  added  carelessly,  "  but  it  isn't  neces- 
sary." The  words  made  no  impression  at  the  time,  but 
they  came  to  mind  later. 

After  the  battle  we  had  not  been  idle;  at  least  I  was 
set  to  work.  There  was  no  commissary  to  the  brigade, 
and  for  a  week  or  two  I  did  the  duty  after  a  fashion  un- 
til an  officer  of  that  department  was  assigned  —  Major 
Chichester.  His  papers,  correspondence,  and  duties 
seemed  to  fall  on  me,  naturally,  by  his  consent,  and  the 
brigadier-general  soon  began  to  look  to  me  for  assist- 
ance. 

35 


36  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  A 

This  had  been  going  on  for  some  time  until  the  of- 
ficial mail  one  fine  morning  brought  me  a  commission 
as  captain  in  the  Adjutant-General's  Department,  with 
orders  to  report  to  Longstreet.  Then  his  words  leaped 
to  my  memory.  He  had  a  right  to  nominate  his  own 
adjutant-general  and  had  applied  for  me  while  I  was 
fishing  around  for  a  second  lieutenancy.  I  had  no  mili- 
tary training  except  some  drill  and  tactics  at  school,  but 
it  seemed  he  thought  I  took  to  the  work  handily.  He 
instructed  me  to  relieve  Armistead  and  take  over  all  the 
duties  of  the  office.  I  rose  with  Longstreet  to  be  major 
and  lieutenant-colonel  in  that  department,  and  brigadier- 
general  commanding  in  Hill's  corps,  and  my  affection 
for  him  is  unfailing.  Such  efficiency  on  the  field  as  I 
may  have  displayed  came  from  association  with  him  and 
the  example  of  that  undismayed  warrior.  He  was  like 
a  rock  in  steadiness  when  sometimes  in  battle  the 
world  seemed  flying  to  pieces. 

Armistead  left  us,  carrying  our  good  wishes  for  his 
future. 

I  think  the  pay  of  a  captain  (mounted)  was  $140 
per  month  and  forage  for  two  horses;  a  major,  $162  a 
month;  a  lieutenant-colonel,  $187.  All  general  officers 
got  $301  per  month.  A  soldier  said  the  $i  was  for 
what  they  did,  the  $300  just  thrown  in  to  please  them. 
Johnny  Reb  must  have  his  little  joke. 

The  first  company  to  leave  Savannah  for  Virginia 
was  the  Oglethorpe  Infantry,  a  fine  body  of  eager 
young  men  commanded  by  Captain  Bartow.  He  was 
well  known  all  through  the  State  as  an  ardent  Confeder- 
ate, a  distinguished  lawyer  and  orator.  He  took  his 
young  men  to  Joe  Johnston  in  the  Valley,  wildly  en- 
thusiastic ;  but  Bartow  could  not  long  remain  their  cap- 
tain. His  wide  reputation  quickly  placed  him  colonel 


CONFEDERATE  STAFF  OFFICER        37 

of  the  Eighth  Georgia  Infantry,  and  with  that  historic 
regiment  the  company  fought  at  Manassas,  and  the 
entire  war  thereafter  in  Longstreet's  command.  Bar- 
tow  was  commissioned  a  brigadier  and  served  as  such 
at  Manassas.  On  July  3ist  many,  anxious  eyes  were 
fixed  on  it  in  Savannah.  Then  was  its  baptism  of  fire, 
and  notTly  did  the  young  men  stand  it.  Many  were  the 
mourners  at  home  for  the  killed  and  wounded  of  these 
devoted  youth.  Their  officers  —  West,  Cooper,  Butler 
—  led  them  handsomely ;  their  colonel  was  lost  to  them 
and  to  the  country.  Bartow  was  shot  down  at  the  head 
of  the  Eighth.  "  They  have  killed  me,  boys,  but  never 
give  up  the  fight,"  was  his  last  gasp,  and  his  soul,  with 
the  gallant  Bee's,  sought  its  upward  flight.  The  com- 
pany became  famous.  It  left  its  dead  and  wounded 
on  every  battlefield  from  Manassas  to  Appomattox, 
wherever  Longstreet's  corps  was  engaged.  Revived 
now  and  honored  it  is  at  its  old  home,  one  of  the  lead- 
ing military  organizations  of  Georgia.  Never  do  the 
men  forget  the  memories  of  that  day  of  battle  on  its  re- 
curring anniversaries,  or  fail  in  pride  of  their  glorious 
predecessors. 

As  the  winter  approached,  the  enemy  drew  in  their 
front  and  lined  the  fortifications  and  defenses  on  the 
Potomac.  McClellan  evidently  determined  not  to  at- 
tack and  that  the  winter  must  pass  idly  on  their  part. 
The  gaudium  certaminis  was  no  part  of  him.  On  ours 
Johnston  drew  in  his  scattered  forces,  concentrating 
about  Centerville,  which  he  fortified,  and  there  they 
were,  the  two  armies  making  faces  at  each  other,  and 
the  Northern  papers  telling  wonders  about  us,  all  be- 
lieved by  McClellan,  whose  imagination  always  doubled, 
trebled,  quadrupled  the  fighting  strength  of  those  des- 
perate Rebels. 


,38  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  A 

While  at  Centerville  the  army  underwent  its  first 
reorganization.  Beauregard  was  sent  West  to  impor- 
tant duty  and  J.  E.  Johnston  assumed  command  of 
the  Eastern  army,  to  be  forever  known  and  glorious  as 
the  Army  of  Northern  Virginia.  It  was  then  in  four 
divisions,  the  second  of  the  three  brigades  under  Major- 
General  Longstreet  (Second  Virginia  and  First  South 
Carolina  Brigade).  First  Division,  also  of  three  bri- 
gades, under  Major-General  Holmes  (down  on  lower 
Potomac),  and  the  district  of  the  Valley,  under  Major- 
General  T.  J.  Jackson  (Stonewall),  made  up  this  army, 
besides  artillery  and  cavalry;  the  latter  under  Stuart. 
*"  The  first  flag  of  the  Confederacy  was  the  stars  and  bars, 
i  but  it  was  found  on  the  battlefield  dangerously  similar 
to  the  Northern  stars  and  stripes.  The  battle-flag  un- 
der which  we  fought  to  the  finish  was  then  substituted, 
and  it  was  while  we  were  at  Centerville  that  the  military 
function  of  presenting  the  new  colors  to  the  battalions 
was  arranged. 

The  day  for  our  division  went  off  admirably.  It 
was  brilliant  weather,  and  all  were  in  their  best  outfits, 
and  on  their  best  mounts.  The  troops  looked  well  as 
the  colonels  successively  received  their  colors  to  de- 
fend. 

Arrangements  had  been  made  for  a  generous  hos- 
pitality at  our  division  headquarters.  We  were  occu- 
pying a  dismantled  old  wooden  farm-house  well  situ- 
ated in  the  shade  of  fine  trees.  There  a  sumptuous 
repast  was  spread,  and  the  principal  officers  of  the  di- 
visions became  our  guests  after  the  flag  ceremonies. 
These  arrangements  were  made  by  Major  John  W. 
Fairfax,  whom  Longstreet  had  had  appointed  a  major 
and  inspector  on  his  staff.  Fairfax  was  a  rich  man, 
owning  the  beautiful  broad  estate  of  President  Monroe, 


CONFEDERATE  STAFF  OFFICER       39 

Oak  Hill,  on  the  upper  Potomac,  in  Loudoun  County, 
near  Aldie,  also  a  fine  property  on  the  lower  Potomac. 

Major  Fairfax  was  then  of  middle  age,  tall,  courtly 
and  rather  impressive.  He  had  attached  himself  at 
once  to  Longstreet,  and  took  charge  of  his  mess  and 
small  wants,  presented  him  with  a  superb  mount,  and 
did  the  best  he  could  with  his  new  military  duties.  He 
lacked  nothing  in  courage;  was  brave  and  would  go 
anywhere.  But  Fairfax  had  two  distinctions  —  he  was 
the  most  pious  of  churchmen  and  was  a  born  bon  vivant, 
knowing  and  liking  good  things.  Whiskey  later  was 
hard  to  get,  yet  he  managed  to  have  always  a  good  sup- 
ply on  hand. 

He  is  now  a  hale  and  hearty  man,  wonderfully  well 
preserved. 

It  was  Fairfax,  as  I  said,  that  provided  the  feast, 
drawing  the  richest  materials  from  his  beautiful  broad 
pastures  in  Loudoun.  Everything  was  plentiful  in  that 
stage  of  the  war  and  much  liquor  and  wine  were  con- 
sumed. Johnston,  G.  W.  Smith,  Van  Dorn,  Beaure- 
gard,  and  others  of  high  rank  were  present,  and  we  had 
great  merriment  and  singing. 

Suddenly  came  a  clash  of  steel  in  the  crowded  room. 
Longstreet,  with  great  quickness,  had  thrown  a  pair  of 
swords  out  of  the  window.  Dr.  Cullen  and  Captain 
Walton,  both  of  his  staff  (too  much  wine  taken),  had 
suddenly  quarreled,  and  Walton  had  given  the  doctor 
a  blow  in  the  face.  Longstreet's  quick  movement  dis- 
posed of  the  matter  for  the  time,  but  it  could  not  so 
end.  After  the  entertainment,  and  when  done  with 
some  hard  racing  and  leaping  by  the  wilder  young 
mounted  officers,  Colonel  Ransome  Calhoun  of  South 
Carolina  called  on  Major  Walton.  It  was  to  demand  a 
meeting  in  expiation  of  the  blow.  Walton  referred 


40  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  A 

Calhoun  to  me,  and  our  pourparler  opened  most  cour- 
teously. He  was  an  admirable  gentleman,  and  but  for 
his  good  sense  and  forbearance  there  must  have  been  an 
ugly  meeting.  My  difficulties  were  increased  by  Long- 
street,  who,  suspecting  something,  ordered  me  to  put  a 
stop  to  the  whole  affair,  adding  that  I  was  chief  of  the 
staff  and  would  be  held  responsible  were  not  a  hostile 
meeting  avoided.  We  managed  to  close  the  thing  by 
explanations  from  Cullen  and  regrets  from  Walton. 
Both  men  seemed  well  satisfied.  Colonel  Calhoun,  of 

j  whom  I  then  formed  a  high  opinion,  returned  to  duty  at 
Charleston,  and  there  incurred  the  enmity  of  Colonel 

-•  Rhett.     After  some  time,  and  many  efforts  of  friends 
to  bring  about  a  better  feeling,  they  met  with  pistols, 
jand  Calhoun  was  killed.     A  high-minded,  honorable 
gentleman !     Walton  was  quite  a  friend  of  mine. 

Walton  was  quite  a  friend  of  mine  and  fond  of 
me.  Gifted  with  uncommon  intellectual  attainments, 
the  favorite  scholar  of  L.  Q.  C.  Lamar  at  the  Uni- 
versity of  Mississippi,  he  was  of  the  most  uncertain, 
unexpected  temper  and  exactions;  he  could  be  dan- 
gerous at  times,  and  only  the  greatest  firmness  held 
him  in  check  until  the  humor  passed  off  and  then  he 
was  all  lovely.  When  the  war  ended  he  returned  to 
Mississippi,  quarreled  with  a  man,  and  killed  him. 
Moving  to  Alabama  he  found  himself  in  the  thick  of 
the  yellow  fever  epidemic  of  1878.  Dropping  all  per- 
sonal interests  he  devoted  himself  wholly  to  the  sick 
and  dying,  until  himself  struck  down  by  death.  His 
memory  is  sweet  in  that  part  of  the  State. 

One  day,  as  the  winter  came  on,  Longstreet  sent  for 
me.  "  The  men  will  want  amusement  and  entertain- 
ment the  long  winter  days,"  he  said.  "  We  must  get 
them  up  a  theater  and  a  good  company.  See  to  it  at 


CONFEDERATE  STAFF  OFFICER        41 

once  and  lose  no  time.  Issue  such  orders  as  may  be 
necessary."  That  was  all,  and  quite  easy  for  the  Gen- 
eral. Draw  a  theater  and  company,  properties  and  all 
out  of  one's  pocket  like  a  ripe  apple!  But  it  could  be 
done  with  the  resources  of  a  division  of  infantry  at 
one's  hand,  and  I  set  about  it  at  once.  The  colonels 
each  received  a  note  asking  help  and  details  from  the 
ranks  of  actors  with  some  experience.  They  were 
sure  to  be  found  there.  But  more  than  all,  I  wanted 
a  manager,  and  he  soon  came  out  of  the  First  Virginia 
Infantry  to  take  charge  of  the  play.  It  was  Theodore 
Hamilton,  an  actor  of  some  experience.  I  have  met 
him  in  several  places  acting  since  the  peace,  and  he  al- 
ways comes  to  me  as  an  old  friend,  although  he  was  not 
to  tread  the  boards  at  the  "  Centerville  Theater." 

"  Now,  Captain,"  he  said,  "  for  scenery  and  prop- 
erties. You  have  the  building,  I  have  the  company; 
what  about  the  rest?"  It  was  easy;  painters  were 
found  in  the  ranks  for  scenery,  and  many  of  the  officers 
chipping  in,  we  got  together  enough  money  to  send 
Hamilton  to  Richmond  to  get  the  costumes  and  prop- 
erties. I  don't  think  he  made  the  most  of  his  time 
there,  but  he  got  something,  and  after  many  delays  we 
began  to  think  we  should  see  some  acting  after  all. 
But  alas!  just  then,  Johnston,  discovering  McClellan's 
movements  to  the  Peninsula,  broke  up  his  camp,  his 
officers  destroying  needlessly  an  immense  amount  of 
valuable  supplies,  and  off  we  marched  merrily  to  face 
our  old  friend,  the  young  Napoleon.  Such  was  the 
beginning  and  the  end  of  our  first  and  only  attempt  at 
theatricals. 

It  was  while  we  were  about  Centerville  that  a  great 
change  came  over  Longstreet.  He  was  rather  gay  in 
disposition  with  his  chums,  fond  of  a  glass,  and  very 


42  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  A 

skilful  at  poker.  He,  Van  Dorn,  and  G.  W.  Smith 
were  accustomed  to  play  almost  every  night  with  T.  J. 
Rhett,  General  Johnston's  adjutant-general,  and  we 
sometimes  heard  of  rather  wild  scenes  amid  these  old 
army  chums  —  all  from  West  Point,  all  having  served 
in  Mexico  and  against  the  Indians.  Longstreet's  wife 
and  children  were  at  Richmond.  He  was  devoted  to 
them.  Suddenly  scarlet  fever  broke  out  and  three  of 
the  children  died  within  one  week.  He  was  with  them, 
and  some  weeks  after  resumed  his  command  a  changed 
man.  He  had  become  very  serious  and  reserved  and  a 
consistent  member  of  the  Episcopal  Church.  His  grief 
was  very  deep  and  he  had  all  our  sympathies;  later 
years  lightened  the  memory  of  his  sorrow  and  he  be- 
came rather  more  like  his  old  cheerful  self,  but  with  no 
dissipation  of  any  kind. 

Before  parting  with  Centerville  it  should  be  said  that 
my  old  troop,  the  Georgia  Hussars,  had  at  last  got  their 
services  accepted  and  were  brought  to  Richmond  under 
my  friend,  Captain  F.  Waring,  and  mustered  in  for 
the  war.  They  were  thrown  into  a  regiment  known 
as  the  Jeff  Davis  Legion,  commanded  by  Colonel  Will 
T.  Martin,  which  was  to  prove  itself  a  fine  body  of 
horse. 

While  in  quarters  this  winter  there  were  several  light 
falls  of  snow,  a  novelty  to  most  of  our  Southern  fel- 
lows. Not  many  of  them  were  familiar  with  such 
descents  from  the  clouds.  There  came,  however,  a 
storm  anything  but  interesting.  Snow  was  lying  deep 
and  camps  were  almost  hidden. 

My  staff  comrade,  Peyton  Manning,  and  myself  de- 
cided it  was  the  time  for  a  sleigh  ride  of  our  own. 
No  cutters  were  to  be  had,  but  we  improvised  one. 


CONFEDERATE  STAFF  OFFICER       43 

Securing  a  stout,  well-made  box  of  good  size,  a  plank 
seat  in  it  for  two  made  it  the  body  of  the  fabric.  Then 
the  forests  yielded  a  couple  of  slim  saplings,  which, 
bent  at  the  ends  over  the  fire,  were  not  bad  for  runners. 
On  these,  braced  and  crossed,  with  shafts  attached,  our 
box,  well  elevated,  was  securely  fastened,  and  there  was 
our  cutter.  We  settled  that  the  team  should  be  stylish 
and  made  it  "  tandem,"  in  good  extemporized  harness. 
My  charger  was  put  in  the  shafts  and  Manning's  in  the 
lead,  both  high-spirited  animals.  Each  horse  was 
mounted  by  a  small  negro,  postilion- fashion,  good  rid- 
ers both,  and  supposed  to  add  some  safety  as  well  as 
novelty  to  the  equipage. 

Manning  undertook  to  handle  the  long  reins  from  the 
bits,  and  we  started,  the  observed  of  many  curious,  and 
amid  the  worst  lot  of  evil  prophecies  of  what  would 
befall  us  that  it  was  ever  my  fate  to  hear.  The  outfit 
took  the  road  handsomely,  cheered  by  the  soldiers,  our 
black  postilions  grinning  with  delight. 

All  went  well  for  a  time  and  then  the  devil  himself 
broke  loose !  The  spirit  of  the  horses  rising,  especially 
that  fiery  brute  of  Manning's,  they  were  off  entirely 
beyond  control.  Over  the  deep-snowed  roads  and 
fields,  across  ditches  and  broken  fences  the  gallant  pair 
in  mad  race  took  everything  on  a  full  run,  their  pos- 
tilions now  ashy  hue  with  terror  and  clinging  like  burs 
to  the  bounding  animals.  The  finish  came  quickly. 
There  seemed  to  be  a  sudden  great  fall  of  stars  from 
the  midday  skies  and  Manning  and  I  were  hurled  right 
and  left  into  deep  snow  drifts,  everything  in  pieces, 
horses  and  little  niggers  quite  out  of  sight.  Digging 
ourselves  out  we  took  a  good  look  at  each  other  and 
some  ugly  words  were  said ;  but  although  scratched  and 


44       CONFEDERATE  STAFF  OFFICER 

bruised  no  bones  were  broken,  and  we  slowly  trod  our 
way  back  to  camp,  wiser  if  not  better  men  from  our 
first  and  last  sleigh  ride  in  old  Virginia.  The  horses 
were  brought  back  to  quarters  but  never  again  were 
their  black  postilions  seen  in  those  parts. 


CHAPTER  III 
REMINISCENCES  AND  HORSES 

Visit  to  Mr.  Francis  Sorrel's  country-seat  —  Interment  of  Cap- 
tain Tillinghast,  U.  S.  A. —  Sir  William  Howard  Russell, 
Times  correspondent  —  McDowell  and  July  2ist  —  Seward 
and  the  French  princes  —  Army  begins  to  march  to  Penin- 
sula. 

Not  long  after  the  battle  I  set  out  on  a  visit  to  my 
father's  country  place,  Ireland,  fifteen  miles  from  our 
camp.  Hitching  up  two  good  mules  to  a  light  army 
ambulance,  what  we  needed  was  put  in,  our  intention 
being  to  bring  back  some  delicacies  for  the  messes. 
Captain  Thompson,  of  Mississippi,  one  of  the  aids,  ac- 
companied me.  He  was  an  extraordinary  looking  per- 
son. Nature  had  been  unkind.  The  son  of  Jacob 
Thompson,  Buchanan's  Secretary  of  the  Interior,  he 
had  much  to  hope  for,  but  for  his  affliction.  His  teeth 
and  jaws  were  firmly  set  and  locked,  and  no  surgical 
ingenuity  had  yet  succeeded  in  opening  them.  Liquids 
could  be  conveniently  taken,  but  mechanical  arrange- 
ments had  to  be  made  for  solid  food  by  the  removal  of 
some  teeth. 

This  young  officer  showing  a  great  desire  to  go  along 
with  me,  was  taken,  although  I  could  not  help  picturing 
some  surprise  on  the  part  of  my  father  and  young  sis- 
ters. We  were  made  very  welcome,  as  fresh  from  the 
glorious  battlefield,  and  the  day  was  a  happy  one.  The 
girls  had  made  a  captain's  coat  for  me  out  of  homespun 
cloth ;  but  such  a  fit !  big  enough  for  two  captains  of  my 

45 


46  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  A 

thickness,  it  hung  at  all  angles  and  flapped  furiously  in 
high  winds.  But  love  had  prompted  its  making  and  I 
would  never  suffer  any  ugly  remarks  about  it. 

Something  better  soon  came.  My  brother,  Doctor 
Sorrel,  in  Richmond,  was  always  mindful  of  his  juniors 
in  the  field,  and  getting  possession  of  a  blockade  bolt  of 
fine  gray  cloth,  he  soon  had  enough  snipped  off  to  make 
me  two  good  Confederate  suits,  suitably  laced  and  in 
regulation  trim,  besides  a  long  gray  cape,  or  cloak,  well 
lined,  which  was  to  do  me  good  service  for  years. 

At  "  Ireland  "  they  loaded  our  ambulance  with  good 
things  and  there  were  shouts  of  joy  when  we  reached 
the  camp  with  the  delicacies. 

Captain  Thompson  was  not  subject  to  military  duty 
.and  soon  returned  to  his  home. 

It  should  be  said  here  that  these  jottings  are  without 
Vthe  aid  of  a  scrap  of  notes  or  other  memoranda.  The 
memory  alone  is  called  on,  and  as  the  events  go  back 
forty  years  it  is  something  of  a  test;  but  I  hope  I  am 
rather  strong  on  that  point  and  do  not  fear  falling  into 
inventions  or  imaginations.  There  were  some  dry 
notes  of  dates  and  marches,  but  they  cannot  be  found, 
and  they  would  be  of  no  use  with  these  jottings,  as  no 
attempt  at  dates  is  made.  It  is  a  lasting  regret  to  me 
that  as  a  staff  officer  with  opportunities  of  seeing  and 
knowing  much,  I  did  not  keep  up  a  careful  diary  or 
journal  throughout  the  war.  It  should  be  made  one  of 
the  duties  of  the  staff. 

This  is  odd.  The  day  after  the  battle  I  came  across 
the  body  of  Captain  Tillinghast  at  the  Federal  field  in- 
firmary near  the  stone  bridge.  The  year  previous  I 
had  been  much  in  Baltimore  at  the  Maryland  Club  and 
had  there  played  billiards  with  Tillinghast,  then  a  cap- 
tain of  Artillery,  U.  S.  A.,  and  an  agreeable  acquaint- 


CONFEDERATE  STAFF  OFFICER       47 

ance;  consequently  there  could  be  no  mistake  when  I 
recognized  his  dead  body.  The  Federal  surgeon  also 
identifying  him,  I  set  about  giving  him  decent  burial, 
and  managed  it  finally  by  the  help  of  some  men  of 
Bartow's  Savannah  company  who  knew  me.  The 
ground  was  baked  hard  and  we  could  not  make  the 
grave  deep,  but  it  was  enough ;  and  with  my  own  hands 
I  carved  his  name  on  the  bark  of  a  tree,  under  which 
the  soldier  found  his  last  bivouac  — "  Otis  H.  Tilling- 
hast." 

Some  time  after,  a  blockade-runner,  passing  the  lines 
took  a  letter  from  me  to  my  cousin,  Robert  Fisher,  in 
Baltimore,  a  friend  also  of  Tillinghast.  It  was  on 
other  matters,  but  I  let  him  know  that  Tillinghast's 
body  had  been  recognized  on  the  field,  had  received 
decent  burial,  and  the  spot  marked.  I  described  the 
location  and  then  the  matter  passed  out  of  my  mind. 

After  peace  came  I  was  with  Fisher  in  Baltimore  and 
learned  from  him  that  my  letter  had  been  received  and 
the  information  as  to  Captain  Tillinghast  considerately 
conveyed  to  his  family.  Fisher  was  answered  soon 
after  with  thanks,  "  but  there  was  some  mistake,"  Cap- 
tain Tillinghast  was  buried  by  his  old  classmate  Sam- 
uel Jones,  a  Confederate  brigadier-general,  in  a  dif- 
ferent part  of  the  field  and  his  body  later  removed  to 
the  family  vault.  Astonishing!  If  they  got  a  body 
from  a  spot  not  where  I  had  laid  him  they  got  the 
wrong  husband.  Sam  Jones  quite  likely  saw  Tilling- 
hast, but  he  had  no  hand  in  our  burial  of  him. 
Stranger  things,  however,  have  happened. 

Here  are  some  trifles  of  talk  remembered  as  coming 
from  the  famous  war  correspondent,  Sir  William 
Howard  Russell,  whose  letters  from  the  Crimea  broke 


48  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  A 

the  Aberdeen  Ministry  and  made  him  one  of  the  lead- 
ing men  of  the  Kingdom.  He  was  not  long  ago 
knighted  at  great  age  for  his  service  all  over  the  world 
in  that  field  of  letters.  I  met  him  several  years  ago 
in  New  York,  in  the  train  of  the  notorious  Colonel 
North,  the  Chilean  nitrate  king.  Russell  had  always 
some  good  stories  on  hand,  and  laughed  at  his  chase 
from  Bull  Run  battlefield,  whither  he  had  gone  with 
the  Federal  army  to  write  up  their  victory  pictures. 
It  gave  him  the  name  of  "  Bull  Run  Russell,"  which 
stuck  to  him.  He  admitted  being  very  far  to  the  rear, 
but  said  there  were  some  generals  and  colonels  who  out- 
stripped him  to  Washington!  Some  years  after  the 
war  he  met  in  Europe  General  McDowell,  who  said, 
"  Russell,  do  you  know  what  day  this  is  ?  "  "  No,  I 
don't  recall  any  special  occurrence."  "  It  is,"  said  Mc- 
Dowell, "  the  2  ist  of  July,  and  had  I  succeeded  on  that 
day  in  '61  I  should  have  been  the  greatest  man  in 
America  and  you  the  most  popular." 

Russell  also  had  something  about  the  French  princes 
come  to  join  McClellan's  army.  The  two  young  men, 
Comte  de  Paris  and  Due  de  Chartres,  were  under  the 
care  and  tutelage  of  their  uncle,  the  Prince  de  Joinville, 
who  did  not  follow  them  to  the  army.  On  landing 
they  received  their  commissions  as  captains,  and  quickly 
equipped  themselves  with  handsome  regulation  uni- 
forms and  military  appointments. 

They  proceeded  to  Washington  to  make  formal  calls 
of  ceremony  before  reporting  to  McClellan.  Among 
their  first  visits  was  that  to  Seward,  the  Secretary  of 
State.  On  that  evening  he  was  holding  a  large  recep- 
tion. Seward  himself  leaving  the  ceremony  to  his  son 
Frederick,  was  upstairs  with  some  cronies  drinking 
whiskey.  "  Seward  was  screwed,  you  know,"  said 


CONFEDERATE  STAFF  OFFICER        49 

Russell,  "  undoubtedly  screwed."  When  the  two 
princes  entered  the  hall,  trim  in  their  new  uniforms, 
erect  and  soldierly,  they  were  met  by  Frederick  Seward, 
who  at  once  went  to  announce  them.  "  Tell  them  to 
come  right  up,"  said  the  old  politician ;  "  bring  them 
right  up  and  they  shall  have  some  good  whiskey." 
"  That  will  never  do,"  said  his  son.  "  You  must  come 
down  to  them;  it  is  etiquette  and  strictly  in  rule." 
And  down  the  Secretary  went.  "  Screwed  "  a  little, 
for  as  soon  as  he  spied  the  Frenchmen,  out  he  broke : 
"  Captain  Chatters,  glad  to  see  you ;  welcome  to  Wash- 
ington. And  you  too,  Captain  Paris.  I  am  pleased 
to  have  you  in  my  house.  Both  of  you  come  up  with 
me.  You  won't  dislike  the  whiskey  you  shall  taste." 
But  the  watchful  Frederick  came  to  the  rescue  and  car- 
ried off  the  astonished  princes  with  all  propriety. 

Russell  declared  this  to  be  literally  true;  but  if  not,  it 
at  least  as  the  Italians  say,  "  ben  trovato."  Sir  Wil- 
liam was  then  a  picturesque  figure  in  dark  blue  dress 
coat,  brass  buttons,  and  ruffled  shirt.  Always  interest- 
ing, he  had  exhaustless  stores  of  information  and  ad- 
venture. A  pretty  young  Italian  wife  accompanied 
him. 

Something  as  to  horses.  I  had  left  a  good  one  in 
Savannah,  in  care  of  a  member  of  the  troop.  Hearing 
that  the  horse  was  with  him  in  Virginia  I  sent  over  for 
my  property  and  got  for  answer  that  he  was  not  mine ; 
that  he  belonged  to  the  man  in  Savannah,  who  not  be- 
ing able  to  enlist  had  contributed  this  fine  animal  to 
the  outfit  of  the  troop.  A  nice  business  indeed.  It 
was  easy  to  be  patriotic  with  my  horse,  but  it  was  soon 
settled.  Captain  Waring  heard  the  statement,  and 
recognizing  the  animal  as  mine  had  him  sent  to  me; 
but  the  horse  had  been  so  neglected  and  diseased  that 


50  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  A 

he  was  no  good  and  I  was  obliged  to  leave  him  by  the 
roadside.  I  had,  during  the  war,  many  horses,  some 
good,  some  very  poor.  Among  the  best  was  the  tough- 
looking  clay-bank  I  took  from  my  father  when  joining 
the  army.  He  was  capable  of  anything  in  speed  and 
endurance,  but  with  a  walk  so  slow  and  a  trot  so  bone- 
breaking  that  I  had  to  swap  him  for  one  not  so  good. 
Many  of  my  animals  broke  down  from  hard  staff  serv- 
ice in  campaign,  and  a  magnificent  mare  was  killed 
under  me  in  Pickett's  charge  at  Gettysburg.  A  shell 
burst  directly  under  her  and  the  poor  beast  was  in- 
stantly done  for.  I  was  not  touched.  In  Tennessee, 
in  1864,  I  picked  up  a  delightful  little  white  mare, 
sound,  fleet  and  enduring.  I  could  not  always  get  to 
my  other  horses  at  the  outbreak  of  firing,  and  the 
mare's  color  was  against  us  both.  It  was  always 
among  the  soldiers,  "  Fire  at  the  fellow  on  the  white 
horse."  She  was  at  my  brigade  quarters  at  Appomat- 
tox  and  my  brother  rode  her  to  Savannah.  When  the 
two  appeared  in  front  of  our  residence,  my  sisters 
rushed  out,  but  could  not  believe  that  the  poor,  tired 
little  mare  was  their  brother's  war  horse.  Their  imag- 
ination had  been  at  work. 

My  brother  Claxton,  my  junior,  was  a  fine,  well  set 
up  young  fellow  and  eager  for  the  fray.  He  was  also 
a  private  in  the  Hussars,  and  like  myself  had  not  waited 
for  the  company,  but  came  on  to  Richmond.  Here  he 
fell  in  with  some  young  Georgians  from  Athens,  the 
Troop  Artillery,  a  six-gun  battery  under  command  of 
Captain  Carl  ton.  Claxton  joined  and  became  a  good 
artillerist  and  was  a  corporal  when  transferred.  The 
First  Georgia  Regulars  was  organized  by  the  State 
among  the  first,  its  officers  being  appointed  by  the  Gov- 
ernor and  the  men  enlisted  anywhere.  Its  drill  and 


CONFEDERATE  STAFF  OFFICER        51 

discipline  were  supposed  to  be  severer  than  that  of 
other  troops.  This  regiment  was  brought  to  Virginia 
and  assigned  to  G.  T.  Anderson's  (Tige  Anderson) 
Georgia  Brigade.  With  some  influence  and  much  hard 
work,  my  brother,  Doctor  Sorrel,  succeeded  in  getting 
a  commission  as  second  lieutenant  in  this  regiment  for 
Claxton.  Its  officers  were  not  elected;  they  were  ap- 
pointed by  the  Executive.  Claxton's  service  was 
thenceforward  with  this  regiment,  its  officers  showing 
some  of  the  best  names  in  Georgia,  and  its  reputation 
correspondingly  high.  Later  I  gave  Captain  Sorrel  a 
temporary  detail  on  the  staff  of  Brigadier-General 
Garnett,  and  still  later  he  was  appointed  captain  in  the 
Assistant  Adjutant-General's  Department  and  served 
with  General  John  Bratton. 

When  we  moved  from  Centerville  my  father  had 
long  since  returned  to  Savannah  with  his  family,  and 
his  "  Ireland "  place  was  unoccupied  (it  was  later 
burned  by  the  Union  soldiers).  But  my  cousin,  Mrs. 
Lucy  Green,  and  children,  were  at  their  place,  "  The 
Lawn,"  which  would  be  in  the  enemy's  territory  after 
our  withdrawal.  Our  first  halt  was  near  Gainesville 
and  after  getting  the  troops  comfortably  into  camp  I 
rode  over  to  see  her,  about  three  miles.  The  situation 
was  clearly  described  and  he  decided  to  pack  her  car- 
riages and  wagons  and  move  to  Richmond.  I  gave 
her  a  safe  escort  in  a  man  from  Lynchburg,  Mr.  Pax- 
ton,  a  member  of  Blackford's  cavalry  company.  With 
farewells  I  rode  back  through  the  night,  the  better  by 
a  pair  of  English  boots  my  cousin  gave  me.  She  and 
the  children,  with  servants,  under  good  Paxton's 
charge,  made  next  morning  a  start  for  Richmond, 
where  they  arrived  safely. 

Referring  again  to  horses,  the  hussar  horse  had  been 


52        CONFEDERATE  STAFF  OFFICER 

my  mount  at  the  short  service  on  Skidaway.  Henry 
Taylor  was  my  messmate  and  rode  next  me  on  a  good 
bay  precisely  the  same  color  as  mine,  with  considerable 
resemblance  between  them.  Taylor  was  rich,  lazy, 
despised  discipline,  and  was  a  trial  to  the  captain.  He 
gave  his  horse  no  attention  and  the  beast  would  have 
starved  but  for  others.  The  captain  could  stand  it  no 
longer.  Sending  for  Taylor  he  read  him  a  severe  lec- 
ture and  promised  punishment  if  the  horse  was  not 
kept  clean  and  tended. 

Taylor  was  persuaded  he  must  do  something,  and  the 
next  morning  he  was  up  at  stable-call  at  the  picket 
ropes,  brush  and  curry  comb  in  hand.  It  was  very 
early  and  misty.  My  horse  was  picketed  next  to  Tay- 
lor's and  I  had  the  satisfaction  of  seeing  my  lazy  friend 
give  him  the  best  morning's  rub  he  had  received  for 
many  days.  When  Taylor  woke  up  to  what  he  had 
done  and  that  his  own  horse  was  still  to  be  tended  he 
could  not  immediately  see  the  joke,  but  soon  took  it  in 
good  part  and  had  something  ready  for  me  not  long 
after,  which  he  thought  squared  us. 


CHAPTER  IV 
SKETCHES 

Brigadier-Generals  Elzey  and  Early  —  Leaping  horses  —  Confed- 
erate uniforms  —  Ladies  at  Fairfax  Station  —  Colonel  Stu- 
art's Maryland  line  —  Longstreet  made  Major-General  — 
Sketches  of  Brigadier-Generals  Ewell  and  Pickett —  Gen- 
eral Anderson  —  Major-General  Van  Dorn  —  Major-Gen- 
eral G.  W.  Smith  —  Brigadier  Early  —  Brigadier-General 
D.  R.  Jones. 

One  fine  day  not  long  after  the  Manassas  battle,  and 
while  we  were  at  Fairfax  Court  House,  Longstreet 
called  on  me  to  ride  over  to  the  station  on  a  visit.  It 
was  to  General  Elzey,  who  was  found  with  General 
Early  in  a  dilapidated  old  church.  Refreshments  were 
ordered  and  a  good  deal  of  whiskey  consumed  by  the 
three  brigadiers,  some  colonels  and  staff  officers. 
Early  had  been  a  strong  Union  man  until  Virginia  se- 
ceded, and  he  then  took  arms,  devotedly  and  ever 
bravely,  for  his  State  and  the  Confederacy.  He  was, 
however,  of  a  snarling,  rasping  disposition,  and  seemed 
to  irritate  Elzey,  who,  not  a  Union  man,  had  come 
South  without  the  secession  of  his  State,  Maryland. 
There  were  some  hot  words  all  around,  but  peace  was 
made,  however,  and  we  all  quit  the  drinks  and  ad- 
journed to  the  horses  and  fine  weather  outside.  Leap- 
ing fences  and  ditches  at  once  began,  my  mount  doing 
well  and  coming  some  daring  trials.  Longstreet  was 
mounted  on  a  fine  bay  not  quite  up  to  such  work,  with 
his  weight,  and  the  General  turned  him  over  to  me. 

53 


54  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  A 

The  bay  did  splendidly,  surpassing  all  others  present, 
and  the  generals  were  much  pleased. 

Colonel  Duncan  McRae,  Fifth  North  Carolina,  had 
just  received  from  Richmond  a  handsome  new  Con- 
federate uniform  and  outfit.  Alas!  it  soon  came  to 
grief.  The  Colonel,  in  taking  a  high  fence,  lost  his  seat 
and  came  down  very  hard,  splitting  his  fine  coat  in  the 
back,  from  collar  to  waist. 

A  word  here  as  to  uniforms  and  insignia.  So  fast 
does  the  memory  of  things  pass  that  perhaps  it  may  be 
well  to  make  a  note  of  what  was  the  Confederate  uni- 
form. It  was  designed  and  settled  on  by  a  board  of 
officers  of  the  War  Department. 

For  all  officers,  a  close-fitting  double-breasted  gray 
tunic* 

For  generals,  staff  and  all  field  officers,  dark  blue 
trousers. 

The  arm  of  service  was  shown  by  collar  and  cuff  — 
Generals  and  staff  officers,  buff;  Cavalry,  yellow;  Ar- 
tillery, red;  Infantry,  blue;  Medical  Department,  black. 

Dark  blue  trousers  had  broad  gold  stripes  on  outer 
seams,  except  generals,  who  wore  two  narrower  and 
slightly  apart. 

Trousers  for  all  line  officers  under  rank  of  major 
were  light  blue  with  broad  cloth  stripe,  color  of  service 
arm. 

Rank  was  shown  on  collar  and  sleeve. 

Generals  wore  on  collar  a  gold  wreath  enclosing 
three  stars  in  line,  the  middle  one  slightly  larger.  On 
their  sleeves  was  the  ornamental  Hungarian  knot  of 
four  braids  width.  They  usually  wore  their  buttons  in 
groups  of  twos  or  threes.  There  was  no  difference  in 
the  uniform  or  rank  mark  among  the  several  grades  of 
general  officers. 


CONFEDERATE  STAFF  OFFICER        55 

Colonels  wore  three  stars  in  line,  same  size ;  lieuten- 
ant-colonels, two,  and  majors,  one.  The  knot  on  the 
sleeve  was  three  braids  width  for  the  three  grades  of 
field  officers  —  colonel,  lieutenant-colonel,  and  major. 

For  captains,  rank  was  shown  by  three  short  bars 
lateral  on  front  of  collar ;  first  lieutenant,  two  bars,  and 
second  lieutenant,  one  bar.  Captains  wore  on  sleeve 
Hungarian  knot  of  two  braids  width,  and  first  and  sec- 
ond lieutenants,  one  braid. 

For  headgear  the  French  "  Kepi,"  color  of  arm  of 
service,  richly  embroidered,  was  first  provided ;  but  the 
felt  hat,  black  or  any  color  that  could  be  had,  speedily 
pushed  it  aside  almost  before  it  had  an  existence. 

The  intention  of  the  board  of  officers  was  to  adopt 
the  tunic  like  the  short,  close-fitting,  handsome  Aus- 
trian garment,  but  it  went  completely  by  default.  The 
officers  would  none  of  it.  They  took  to  the  familiar 
cut  of  frock  coat  with  good  length  of  tail. 

Longstreet  and  two  or  three  of  us  tried  the  tunic,  but 
it  was  not  popular. 

Confederate  uniforms  were  in  great  number  at  the 
flag  presentations  a  little  later,  of  which  I  have  already 
spoken.  We  were  then  bravely  dressed  in  the  bright 
and  handsome  Confederate  gray. 

But  now  "  place  aux  dames."  A  plendid  Maryland 
regiment  of  Elzey's  brigade  was  at  Fairfax  Station 
near  by,  and  two  lovely  women,  descendants  of  a  dis- 
tinguished Virginia  family,  were  then  visiting  their 
numerous  friends  serving  with  it.  They  were  the 
beautiful  Carys,  Hetty  and  her  cousin  Constance.  The 
three  generals,  gallantly  inclined,  decided  they  must 
call  on  the  ladies,  and  this  they  did,  shutting  out  their 
staffs  for  the  time.  Then  evening  coming  on  dress 
parade  was  in  order  and  Colonel  George  Stewart  soon 


56  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  A 

had  his  fine  Marylanders  in  line.  He  insisted  on  the 
two  ladies  taking  position  by  him,  and  when  time  for 
the  manual  came,  handed  his  sword  to  Hetty,  and  step- 
ping aside  prompted  her  with  the  orders,  and  thus  the 
regiment,  amid  much  enthusiasm,  was  put  through  its 
manual  by  the  prettiest  woman  in  Virginia.  They 
soon  returned  to  Richmond  and  occupied  themselves  in 
the  good  work  of  the  Southern  women.  Hetty,  a 
really  glorious  beauty,  married  Brig.-Gen.  John  Pe- 
gram  in  January,  1865.  Three  weeks  after  he  fell  at 
Hatcher's  Run,  at  the  same  time  that  I  received  what 
was  thought  a  fatal  wound.  The  New  York  Herald  a 
few  days  later  published  both  our  obituaries.  (See 
Appendix. ) 

Constance  married,  after  the  peace,  my  friend  Bur- 
ton N.  Harrison,  President  Davis's  accomplished  pri- 
vate secretary.  He  began  his  law  practice  in  New 
York,  succeeding  well,  and  his  wife  soon  became  estab- 
lished and  admired  as  a  woman  of  taste  and  uncommon 
social  and  literary  attainments.  Her  books  have 
gained  deserved  popularity  and  wide  circulation. 

Longstreet  being  now  a  major-general,  with  three 
brigades,  the  new  brigadiers  are  to  be  introduced.  R. 
S.  Ewell  took  our  old  brigade.  He  was  a  distant  rela- 
tive of  mine  and  one  of  the  strangest  oT  warriors ;  had 
""seTvecT  with  distinction  in  Mexico,  and  all  his  life 
against  Indians.  He  was  without  a  superior  as  a  cav- 
alry captain  and  of  the  most  extraordinary  appearance. 
Bald  as  an  eagle,  he  looked  like  one ;  had  a  piercing  eye 
and  a  lisping  speech.  A  perfect  horseman  and  lover 
of  horses  (racers),  he  never  tired  of  talking  of  his 
horse  "  Tangent,"  in  Texas,  who  appears  to  have  never 
won  a  race  and  always  to  have  lost  his  owner's  money. 


CONFEDERATE  STAFF  OFFICER        57 

But  the  latter' s  confidence  never  weakened  and  he  al- 
ways believed  in  "  Tangent."  General  Ewell  became  a 
very  distinguished  soldier,  and  justly  so.  To  uncom- 
mon courage  and  activity  he  added  a  fine  military  in- 
stinct, which  could  make  him  a  good  second  in  com- 
mand in  any  army.  He  was  not  long  with  us.  His 
fortunes  were  with  Stonewall  Jackson  in  the  Valley 
operations,  and  he  rose  to  be  major-general  and  lieu- 
tenant-general. In  the  latter  rank  he  commanded  the 
Second  Corps  at  Gettysburg,  having  previously  lost  a 
leg  in  the  second  Manassas  campaign.  His  command 
suffered  great  loss  in  the  slaughter  of  Malvern  Hill. 
The  morning  after,  I  found  him  doubled  up  on  the 
floor  of  a  little  shanty,  his  head  covered  up;  the  ground 
was  covered  with  our  slain.  Raising  himself  he  in- 
stantly recognized  me,  and  lisped  out,  "  Mather  Thor- 
rel,  can  you  tell  me  why  we  had  five  hundred  men  killed 
dead  on  this  field  yesterday  ?  "  That  was  all ;  the  soul 
of  the  brave  General  was  fit  to  burst  for  the  awful  and 
useless  sacrifice.  It  was  a  fearful  blunder  somewhere 
and  has  not  yet  been  boldly  and  clearly  lighted  up. 
Kemper,  a  fine  Virginian  colonel,  succeeded  Ewell  in 
the  command  of  the  Fourth  Brigade,  and  served  well 
until  he  was  left  for  dead  in  front  of  his  men  in 
Pickett's  charge  at  Gettysburg. 

Our  Second  Brigade  was  also  Virginian.  One  eve- 
ning at  dark  I  was  in  my  narrow  office  when  an  officer 
was  announced.  I  turned  and  had  quite  a  start  at  my 
visitor's  appearance.  It  was  George  Pickett,  just  made 
brigadier-general,  and  reporting  for  command.  A  sin- 
gular figure  indeed !  A  medium-sized,  well-built  man, 
straight,  erect,  and  in  well-fitting  uniform,  an  elegant 
riding-whip  in  hand,  his  appearance  was  distinguished 
and  striking.  But  the  head,  the  hair  were  extraordi- 


58  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  A 

nary.  Long  ringlets  flowed  loosely  over  his  shoulders, 
trimmed  and  highly  perfumed;  his  beard  likewise  was 
curling  and  giving  out  the  scents  of  Araby.  He  was 
soon  made  at  home,  and  having  already  received  Long- 
street's  instructions,  was  assigned  to  his  brigade. 

Pickett  became  very  friendly,  was  a  good  fellow,  a 
good  brigadier.  He  had  been  in  Longstreet's  old 
Army  regiment,  and  the  latter  was  exceedingly  fond  of 
him.  Taking  Longstreet's  orders  in  emergencies,  I 
could  always  see  how  he  looked  after  Pickett,  and  made 
us  give  him  things  very  fully;  indeed,  sometimes  stay 
with  hinr  to  make  sure  he  did  not  get  astray. 

Such  was  the  man  whose  name  calls  up  the  most 
famous  and  heroic  charge,  possibly,  in  the  annals  of 
war.  Pickett's  charge  at  Gettysburg  stirs  every  heart 
that  beats  for  great  deeds,  and  will  forever  live  in  song 
and  story. 

Afterwards  his  division  was  relieved  to  rest  and  re- 
cruit, and  grew  strong  and  fit.  It  was,  however,  badly 
mauled  at  Five  Forks  by  Sheridan,  although  its  com- 
mander is  said  to  have  made  excellent  disposition  of 
his  troops  and  fought  them  gallantly. 

The  Third  Brigade  was  of  South  Carolina  regiments 
under  command  of  Brig.-Gen.  Richard  H.  Anderson,  a 
West  Point  graduate  and  an  experienced  officer  of  the 
old  Army.  Of  him  and  also  the  artillery  attached  to 
the  division  there  is  more  to  be  said  later. 

At  the  Centerville  camp  Major-General  Earl  Van 
Dorn  commanded  a  division.  A  small,  handsome  man, 
the  very  picture  of  a  thorough  light  cavalryman,  he 
enjoyed  a  high  reputation  from  service  in  Mexico  and 
against  the  Indians.  Soon  after  he  was  transferred  to 
a  command  in  Mississippi,  and  there  falling  into  a  pri- 
vate quarrel  was  killed. 


CONFEDERATE  STAFF  OFFICER        59 

Maj.-Gen.  G.  W.  Smith  also  had  a  division  near  Cen- 
terville.  From  this  officer  much  was  expected.  He 
had  left  the  Academy  with  high  honors,  and  served 
many  years  with  distinction.  He  resigned  from  the 
Army  to  become  Street  Commissioner  in  New  York,  a 
lucrative  office,  and  thence  he  came  South  for  service. 
There  was  no  opportunity  to  show  his  abilities  in  the 
field  until  the  battle  of  Seven  Pines  in  May— June,  1862, 
and  then  General  Lee  taking  command  of  the  army, 
Smith  withdrew,  and  was,  I  think,  not  again  heard  of 
in  active  field  work.  After  the  war  he  wrote  a  book, 
his  "  Apologies,"  in  which  he  threw  all  the  blame  on 
his  once  bosom  friend,  James  Longstreet,  and  upon 
General  Johnston  for  field  work,  up  to  the  time  of  his 
retirement. 

Jubal  Early,  brigadier-general,  was  one  of  the  ablest 
soldiers  in  the  army.  Intellectually  he  was  perhaps  the 
peer  of  the  best  for  strategic  combinations,  but  he  lacked 
ability  to  handle  troops  effectively  in  the  field ;  that  is, 
he  was  deficient  in  tactical  skill.  His  irritable  disposi- 
tion and  biting  tongue  made  him  anything  but  popular, 
but  he  was  a  very  brave  and  able  commander.  His 
appearance  was  quite  striking,  having  a  dark,  hand- 
some face,  regular  features,  and  deep  piercing  eyes. 
He  was  the  victim  of  rheumatism,  and  although  not  old 
was  bent  almost  double,  like  an  aged  man.  Of  high 
scholarly  and  fine  political  attainments,  he  never  mar- 
ried, but  led  the  life  of  a  recluse  in  Virginia,  entirely 
apart  from  social  and  public  affairs. 

D.  R.  Jones,  brigadier-general,  was  also  near  us.  A 
very  agreeable,  lovable  man,  tall  and  stately,  he  made  a 
brave  appearance,  and  well  merited  the  sobriquet  of 
"  Neighbor  Jones,"  as  they  pleasantly  called  him  at 
West  Point.  His  wife,  a  relative  of  President  Davis, 


60        CONFEDERATE  STAFF  OFFICER 

was  much  with  him  in  camp,  and  a  very  decided  char- 
acter by  the  side  of  her  indulgent  husband.  He  could 
not  figure  with  much  success,  his  health  being  poor,  and 
after  Sharpsburg  was  transferred  to  some  easier  serv- 
ice elsewhere,  and  soon  after  died. 


CHAPTER  V 
OUR  NATIONAL  HYMN 

Singing  among  the  troops  —  Van  Dorn  —  Longstreet  —  Smith 
and  "  I  Puritani "  for  National  hymn  —  Surgeon  Francis 
Sorrel,  C.  S.  A. —  Life  in  Richmond  —  Troops  passing 
through  —  Toombs  and  his  brigade  —  General  D.  H.  Hill. 

Among  the  troops  at  Centerville  there  was  much 
singing,  some  of  it  very  sweet  and  touching. 
"  Lorena,"  set  to  a  tender,  sentimental  air,  was  heard 
everywhere.  "  My  Maryland  "  was  a  great  favorite, 
and  of  course  "  Dixie  "  was  always  in  evidence.  There 
were,  however,  other  sweet  Southern  melodies  that  the 
soldiers  took  up,  seemingly  mellowing  stern  hearts  and 
bringing  tender  memories  of  home.  There  was  con- 
stant talk  of  a  National  air,  "  Dixie  "  being  thought  by 
some  as  of  not  sufficient  dignity.  "  My  Maryland  " 
had  many  advocates,  but  there  were  some  that  thought 
the  noble  strain  of  the  great  Liberty  duet  from  "  I 
Puritani  "  was  the  thing  for  the  Confederacy.  Gen- 
eral Van  Dorn  was  enthusiastic  about  it.  •  At  the  ban- 
quet at  Longstreet' s,  after  the  flag  presentation,  the 
talk  turned  on  this  air,  and  Van  Dorn  began  to  sing  it. 
"Up  on  the  table  and,  show  yourself;  we  can't  see 
you !  "  said  Longstreet.  "  Not  unless  you  stand  by 
me !  "  shouted  Van  Dorn ;  and  no  sooner  said  than 
Longstreet,  G.  W.  Smith,  and  Van  Dorn,  the  ranking 
major-generals,  were  clinging  to  each  other  on  a  narrow 
table  and  roaring  out  the  noble  bars  of  "  I  Puritani." 
Johnston  and  Beauregard  stood  near  with  twinkling 

61 


62  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  A 

eyes  of  amusement  and  enjoyment.  So  much  for  wine 
and  "  entoosy  moosy,"  as  Byron  calls  it;  but  for  all 
this  good  start,  the  soldiers  declined  the  impressive  air 
and  stuck  to  their  Dixie. 

It  was  always  gratifying  to  me  to  note  the  good 
equipment  in  which  the  troops  from  my  State  were 
sent  to  the  front  for  the  Confederacy.  Governor 
Brown  was  thorough  in  doing  the  best  for  them  that 
the  blockade  of  the  coast  and  his  factories  permitted. 
They  came  forward  with  good  clothing,  shoes  and  un- 
derwear, which,  although  of  home  make,  were  warm, 
comfortable  and  serviceable. 

My  brother,  Dr.  Francis  Sorrel,  was  many  years  my 
senior.  He  had  served  in  the  United  States  Army  as 
assistant  surgeon,  but  had  resigned  and  was  in  Cali- 
fornia when  the  war  began.  He  immediately  came  to 
share  the  fortunes  of  his  State.  Dr.  Moore,  the  Con- 
federate Surgeon-General,  without  delay  had  him  ap- 
pointed to  full  rank  and  assigned  for  service  as  his 
close  confidential  assistant  (the  pair  were  forever  roll- 
ing cigarettes).  There  his  influence  and  powers  were 
considerable  and  the  Doctor  was  always  helpful  to  his 
friends.  He  was  instrumental  in  assigning  Dr.  James 
B.  Read,  of  Savannah,  to  the  officers'  hospital  in  Rich- 
mond, and  in  Read's  hands  it  became  celebrated.  He 
kept  a  good  lookout  for  his  two  junior  brothers  in  the 
field  and  we  had  many  evidences  of  his  thought  fulness. 

With  a  wide  acquaintance  in  Richmond,  he  knew  the 
principal  members  of  Congress  and  was  liked  by  all  the 
Cabinet.  His  previous  service  in  the  United  States 
Army  put  him  in  good  touch  with  many  high  officers, 
and  his  position  in  all  respects  was  enviable.  Occa- 
sionally I  managed  to  make  a  short  visit  to  Richmond, 
and  then  my  brother  gave  me  introductions  to  pleasant 


CONFEDERATE  STAFF  OFFICER       63 

men  and  charming  women.  There  may  be  more  to  say 
of  him  later. 

Life  at  Richmond  at  this  time  —  January,  February, 
March,  April,  1862  —  seemed  gay  and  happy,  with  but 
little  outward  sign  of  apprehension  or  anxieties  for  the 
future.  Food  supplies  were  abundant  and  the  pinch 
for  clothing  and  shoes  was  being  eased  by  the  remark- 
able achievement  of  the  several  States  in  equipping  their 
contingents  for  the  field. 

Most  of  the  troops  passed  through  Richmond  en 
route  to  the  Peninsula,  and  there  was  much  excitement 
and  cheering.  Main  Street  was  thronged  with  people 
shouting  wildly  as  the  regiments  marched  down  to 
Rocketts,  where  they  were  to  take  boat  for  part  of  the 
route. 

General  Toombs  was  quite  conspicuous.  Every  one 
knows  that  that  luminous  intellect  embraced  no  sol- 
dier's talent.  It  might  have  been  so  with  study,  but 
the  Georgian  was  for  once  and  all  a  politician,  and  in 
the  wrong  shop  with  a  sword  and  uniform  on. 

He  marched  his  troops  down  Main  Street,  past  the 
crowds  at  Spottswood  Hotel,  with  childlike  delight. 
He  put  himself  at  the  head  of  one  regiment  and  moved 
it  out  of  sight  amid  hurrahs,  then  galloping  back  he 
brought  on  another,  ready  himself  for  cheers,  until  the 
brigade  was  down  the  street  and  near  the  embarkation. 
It  was  somewhat  amusing,  but  a  harmless  entertainment 
for  the  brilliant  orator  and  statesman. 

Being  quite  without  notes  I  had  almost  omitted  a 
jotting  about  one  of  Longstreet's  brigadiers  at  Center- 
ville  —  a  marked  and  peculiar  character.  This  was 
General  D.  H.  Hill,  not  long  with  us.  He  was  soon 
made  major-general  and  sent  elsewhere  to  command. 
Hill  was  a  small,  delicate  man,  rather  bent,  and  cursed 


64       CONFEDERATE  STAFF  OFFICER 

* 

with  dyspepsia,  which  seemed  to  give  color  to  his 
whole  being.  He  was  out  of  West  Point  with  a  good 
class  number,  was  a  capable,  well-read  soldier,  and  posi- 
tively about  the  bravest  man  ever  seen.  He  seemed  not 
to  know  peril  and  was  utterly  indifferent  to  bullets  and 
shell,  but  with  all  these  qualities  was  not  successful. 
His  backbone  seemed  a  trifle  weak.  He  would  take 
his  men  into  battle,  fight  furiously  for  some  time  and 
then  something  weakened  about  him.  Unless  there 
was  some  strong  character  near  by,  like  Longstreet,  for 
instance,  on  whom  he  leaned,  his  attack  would  be  apt  to 
fail  and  his  first  efforts  go  unrewarded.  His  speech 
was  bitter,  although  a  most  devout  Presbyterian  elder. 
He  had  resigned  long  before  from  the  United  States 
Army,  and  had  a  large  school  in  North  Carolina.  He 
was  accustomed  to  sneer  at  cavalry,  and  once  went  so 
far  as  to  say  he  had  "  yet  to  see  a  dead  man  with  spurs 
on."  It  may  be  imagined  what  Stuart's  gallant  troop- 
ers thought  of  him.  But  Hill  had  brains,  and  rose. 
He  was  later  on  sent  West  to  command  in  Bragg' s 
army,  was  promoted  to  lieutenant-general,  and  is  said 
to  have  failed  grievously  at  Chickamatiga,  for  which 
Bragg  suspended  him  from  command;  and  he  was  not, 
I  think,  restored  to  any  service  in  the  field.  He  was 
really  a  good  man,  but  of  sharp  prejudice  and  intem- 
perate language.  If  there  was  one  department  of  the 
army  well  administered  amid  almost  impossibilities,  re- 
quiring most  ingenious  and  inventive  resources,  it  was 
the  Ordnance,  under  Colonel  Gorgas.  Hill  took  a 
hatred  to  it  because  a  gun  burst  in  action,  and  his  im- 
putations on  the  faith  of  the  department  and  its  abilities 
were  quite  unworthy  of  him  or  of  any  good  soldier. 


CHAPTER  VI 

THE  PENINSULA  AND  BATTLE  OF  WILLIAMSBURG, 
MAY  5,  1862 

Arrival  at  Yorktown —  Major-General  Magruder —  His  skilful 
defense  —  Lines  at  Warwick  River  —  Major-General  Mc- 
Clellan  —  Retreat  from  Yorktown  —  Battle  of  Williamsburg, 
May  5  —  Death  of  Colonel  Mott,  Nineteenth  Mississippi  — 
Destruction  of  armored  ram  Virginia  —  Charge  by  Georgia 
Hussars  —  Explosives  behind  rearguard  rebuked  —  Promo- 
ted major. 

But  I  must  hasten  to  the  Peninsula,  where  at  York- 
town  and  along  the  lines  of  the  little  Warwick  River, 
McClellan  and  Johnston  are  frowning  at  each  other; 
the  former,  as  usual,  tripling  the  Confederate  force 
and  bawling  for  more  men.  Persons  and  things  I 
have  left  behind  will  probably  come  into  these  jottings 
in  the  loose  way  they  fall  from  the  pen. 

Longstreet  with  his  staff  and  some  of  his  regiments 
were  among  the  first  arrivals  to  face  McClellan  and 
gave  great  relief  to  Magruder.  This  officer,  a  major- 
general,  commanding  some  10,000  to  12,000  men,  had 
offered  a  most  extraordinary  and  successful  defense. 
It  was  a  wonderful  piece  of  bluff  and  could  have  won 
only  against  McClellan.  Yorktown  was  strongly 
armed  and  well  defended.  Thence  stretching  across 
the  Peninsula  was  a  sluggish  little  stream  known  as  the 
Warwick  River.  It  was  fordable  in  almost  all  places, 
in  some  nearly  dry-shod. 

Magruder's  engineers  had  strengthened  the  defenses 
by  some  dams  that  gathered  a  good  spread  of  water  to 

65 


66  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  A 

be  passed  in  an  attack.  The  Warwick,  of  many  miles 
extent,  was  necessarily  thinly  defended.  Magruder 
put  his  whole  force  behind  it,  an  attenuated  line,  up  and 
down  which  he  constantly  rode  in  full  sight  of  the 
enemy.  He  was  known  in  the  old  Army  as  "  Prince 
John,"  from  the  splendor  of  his  appearance  and  his 
dress.  Of  commanding  form  and  loving  display,  he 
had  assembled  a  numerous  staff,  all,  like  himself,  in  the 
most  showy  uniforms.  To  these  he  added  a  fine  troop 
of  cavalry,  and  when  the  cavalcade  at  full  gallop  in- 
spected the  thin  lines  of  the  Warwick,  it  was  a  sight  for 
men  and  gods.  I  am  persuaded  he  so  impressed 
"  Little  Mac  "  that  he  sang  out  for  more  men  and  thus 
lost  his  opportunity.  In  very  truth  he  was  so  strong 
and  Magruder  so  weak  that  the  Union  ramrods  should 
have  sufficed  to  break  the  defense  and  gobble  up  the 
magnificent  "  Prince  John." 

Longstreet's  arrival  was  therefore  a  great  relief,  and 
soon  Johnston  had  his  army  in  full  position,  making 
McClellan  almost  frantic ;  he  more  than  doubled  John- 
ston's actual  strength.  A  strong  attack  should  have 
prevailed  to  drive  us  away;  and  if  briskly  followed, 
eventually  into  the  York  River.  But  Johnston  knew 
his  man,  as  did  indeed  every  Confederate  leader  later 
on.  Lee,  Longstreet,  Jackson,  the  Hills  all  knowing 
his  points,  while  serving  in  the  U.  S.  Army,  could  now 
rightly  measure  him.  McClellan  was  a  lovable  man,  an 
admirable  organizer,  but  with  little  taste  for  battle  un- 
less largely  outnumbering  his  opponent.  Here  in  the 
trenches  occurred  remarkable  scenes.  Many  of  the 
Southern  regiments  had  enlisted  for  only  twelve  months 
and  the  time  expired  in  April.  Re-enlistments  and 
elections  of  the  officers  took  place  under  fire  of  the 
enemy !  Our  men  were  splendid,  and  with  rare  excep- 


CONFEDERATE  STAFF  OFFICER        67 

tions  they  refused  home  and  re-enlisted,  this  time  for 
the  war. 

Inactivity  continued  for  some  time,  Longstreet  com- 
manding the  center  with  his  own  and  other  troops,  un- 
til it  was  soon  apparent  to  Johnston  that  Richmond 
was  too  much  exposed  to  attacks  on  the  north  side  of 
the  James  River.  The  capital  must  be  covered;  be- 
sides, both  our  flanks  were  endangered  by  the  enemy's 
immense  superiority  on  the  water.  Preparations  there- 
fore began  for  a  move,  and  on  the  night  of  May  3  the 
army  was  successfully  drawn  from  its  trenches  and 
started  on  its  deliberate,  well-ordered  retreat.  On  May 
5  our  rearguard  was  overtaken  and  attacked  in  force  at 
Williamsburg,  Longstreet  in  command,  with  a  consid- 
erable part  of  the  army.  It  was  a  stubborn,  all-day 
fight,  with  serious  losses  on  both  sides,  but  the  enemy 
was  beaten  off  and  we  resumed  the  march  that  night, 
the  Federals  having  enough  of  it.  We  were  not  again 
molested.  This  was  our  first  severe  fight,  and  the 
steadiness  and  order  of  officers  and  men  appeared  to  be 
very  satisfactory.  I  was  promoted  to  be  major  soon 
afterwards,  the  commission  dating  May  5,  the  day  of 
the  action.  There  was  a  gruesome  but  affecting  sight 
during  the  battle.  Colonel  Mott,  of  high  reputation, 
had  brought  from  his  State  the  Nineteenth  Mississippi 
Infantry.  It  was  hotly  engaged  in  a  long,  fierce  fight, 
and  Mott  fell.  His  black  servant  in  the  rear  immedi- 
ately took  a  horse  and  went  to  the  firing  line  for  his 
master's  body.  I  met  the  two  coming  out  of  the  fire 
and  smoke.  The  devoted  negro  had  straddled  the  stif- 
fened limbs  of  his  master  on  the  saddle  before  him, 
covered  his  face  with  a  handkerchief,  and  thus  rescued 
his  beloved  master's  body  for  interment  with  his  fathers 
on  the  old  Mississippi  estate. 


68  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  A 

The  celebrated  L.  Q.  C.  Lamar  was  lieutenant- 
colonel  of  the  regiment,  and  succeeded  to  the  command, 
until  forced  by  physical  disability,  he  retired  to  Rich- 
mond for  other  service.  The  army  moving  on  soon 
neared  the  capital  and  took  up  the  several  positions  as- 
signed its  divisions.  McClellan's  huge  force  follow- 
ing, threw  itself  across  the  Chickahominy,  and  the  siege 
of  Richmond  may  be  said  to  have  begun. 

On  the  withdrawal  of  the  army  from  the  Peninsula, 
Norfolk  and  Gloucester  Point  became  indefensible  and 
the  destruction  of  immense  quantities  of  material  both 
for  field  use  and  for  construction  had  to  be  submitted 
to.  The  blow  was  not  made  lighter  by  the  loss  of  the 
famous  Virginia,  formerly  the  Merrimac,  that  did  such 
havoc  at  Newport  News.  She  could  not  be  permitted 
to  fall  into  the  enemy's  hands  and  was  of  too  deep  draft 
for  service  on  the  James  River.  Her  commander,  Ad- 
miral Josiah  Tatnall,  was  therefore  reluctantly  forced 
to  her  destruction.  She  was  blown  up  and  disap- 
peared. Other  vessels,  cruisers  and  gun-boats,  boilers, 
engines,  and  great  quantities  of  material  for  construc- 
tion had  to  be  destroyed  for  similar  reasons.  The  loss 
was  bitter  to  us,  as  so  much  could  have  been  done  with 
it  all  for  a  little  fighting  navy. 

It  was  during  the  action  at  Williamsburg  that  I  was 
ready  to  shout  for  joy  at  seeing  my  old  troop,  the 
Georgia  Hussars,  in  a  gallant  charge.  Their  regiment, 
the  Jeff  Davis  Legion,  had  been  prematurely  thrown  at 
the  enemy  in  a  position  he  was  thought  about  leaving. 
The  cavalry  colonel  was  wrong.  Our  Georgians  went 
forward  in  fine  style,  expecting  to  carry  everything,  but 
quickly  found  themselves  in  a  very  hot  place.  The 
enemy  was  not  retiring,  but  on  the  contrary  gave  the 
Legion  so  warm  a  reception  as  to  empty  many  saddles. 


CONFEDERATE  STAFF  OFFICER       69 

They  all  came  back  pell-mell,  "  the  devil  take  the  hind- 
most," my  Hussar  comrades  wondering  what  their 
colonel  had  got  them  "  into  that  galley  for !  "  It  was 
a  severe  lesson  but  a  salutary  one,  and  the  regiment  was 
not  again  caught  that  way.  Longstreet  saw  them  close 
by  as  they  dashed  forward,  and  said,  "  They  must  soon 
come  back ;  the  colonel  is  ahead  of  the  right  moment." 

General  Johnston  was  present  on  the  field  all  day, 
but  seeing  Longstreet,  the  rearguard  commander,  carry- 
ing things  very  handsomely,  generously  forbore  any 
interference  and  left  the  battle  to  his  handling.  He 
sent  the  latter  such  additional  troops  as  he  had  to  call 
for  from  time  to  time.  When  night  came  it  was  hor- 
rible. There  were  many  dead  and  wounded  and  the 
weather  nasty ;  the  roads  ankle  deep  in  mud  and  slush. 
But  the  march  had  to  be  again  taken  up. 

On  the  retreat  from  Yorktown,  Brigadier-General 
Rains  was  commanding  the  rearguard.  He  was  a 
brother  of  the  other  Rains  who  at  Augusta,  Georgia, 
achieved  the  apparently  impossible  task  of  supplying 
ammunition.  Both  brothers  were  given  to  experi- 
ments in  explosives  and  fond  of  that  study.  When 
Gabriel  began  moving  out  on  our  march  he  amused 
himself  planting  shells  and  other  explosives  in  the  road- 
way after  us  to  tickle  the  pursuers.  Hearing  this  I 
reported  the  matter  to  Longstreet,  who  instantly 
stopped  it.  He  caused  me  to  write  Rains  a  rather 
severe  note,  reminding  him  that  such  practises  were  • 
not  considered  in  the  limits  of  legitimate  warfare,  and 
that  if  he  would  put  them  aside  and  pay  some  attention 
to  his  brigade  his  march  would  be  better  and  his  strag- 
glers not  so  numerous.  This  officer  did  not  remain 
long  on  duty  in  the  field.  His  talents,  like  those  of  his 
more  celebrated  brother,  lay  elsewhere. 


70        CONFEDERATE  STAFF  OFFICER 

After  getting  into  position  before  Richmond,  less 
than  a  month  intervened  between  the  reorganization 
and  strengthening  of  the  army  and  change  of  its  com- 
mander. I  shall  therefore  defer  any  observations  that 
I  may  recall  as  to  its  composition  and  personnel  until  it 
took  its  more  permanent  form  under  Lee,  contenting 
myself  with  some  stray  reflections  on  the  battle  of 
Seven  Pines,  which  by  the  deplorable  wounding  of 
Johnston  gave  us  for  leader  Robert  E.  Lee. 


CHAPTER  VII 
BATTLE  OF  SEVEN  PINES,  MAY  31,  1862 

Position  taken  in  front  of  Richmond  —  Reception  at  President 
Davis's  —  Sketch  —  Mr.  Benjamin,  Secretary  of  State  — 
Storm-bound  —  Richmond  —  General  Johnston  wounded  — 
—  Von  Borcke,  the  German  volunteer  —  His  armament. 

Our  positions  were  so  near  Richmond  as  to  permit 
frequent  visits  there  during  the  pleasant  month  of 
May. 

McClellan  was  hugging  himself  in  security  and  rein- 
forcements beyond  the  Chickahominy,  and  the  earth- 
work defenses  of  Richmond  which  we  were  guarding 
seemed  to  us  then  all-sufficing.  Later,  we  could  real- 
ize how  little  they  were  worth  without  men  and  guns 
and  rifles  and  a  leader  in  the  field.  These  defenses 
had  been  scientifically  constructed  by  the  engineers 
headed  by  General  Lee  and  Maj.-Gen.  J.  F.  Gilmer. 
The  latter  was  a  distinguished  officer  not  long  since  re- 
signed from  the  United  States  Army,  had  married  in 
Savannah  in  the  family  of  dear  friends  of  ours,  and 
when  the  war  broke  out  at  once  placed  his  unques- 
tioned engineering  abilities  at  the  service  of  the  gov- 
ernment. 

On  one  of  my  visits  to  the  city  I  was  persuaded  by 
my  brother,  Dr.  Sorrel,  to  stay  the  night  and  attend,  a 
reception  at  the  President's.  It  was  interesting  and 
striking.  The  highest  and  most  brilliant  of  the  South- 
land were  there;  bright,  witty,  confident,  carrying 
everything  with  a  high  hand.  The  men  generally  in 

71 


72  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  A 

full  uniform  and  the  women  in  finery,  that  seems  some- 
how always  to  turn  up  for  them  under  all  circum- 
stances. After  presentation  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Davis  I 
had  a  good  look  at  that  remarkable  man.  A  most  in- 
teresting study,  calm  and  self-contained,  gracious  with 
some  sternness;  his  figure  was  straight,  slim  and  ele- 
gant. A  well-poised,  ample  head  was  faced  with  high- 
bred features  and  an  expression  that  could  be  very 
winning  and  agreeable.  His  wife,  Varina,  was  a 
rather  large  woman,  handsome  and  brilliant,  a  bit  in- 
clined to  be  caustic  of  speech,  but  withal  a  good  and 
gracious  help  to  her  husband. 

Her  devotion  when  he  was  a  prisoner  was  later  beau- 
tifully manifested.  Senators  and  Congressmen  were 
there  in  abundance.  Our  own  representative,  Julien 
Hartridge,  characteristically  indifferent  to  such  assem- 
blages, was  taking  his  pleasure  elsewhere. 

Mr.  Benjamin  was  a  most  interesting  character  —  a 
short,  squatty  Jewish  figure.  His  silvery  speech 
charmed  all  hearers  with  its  wit,  persiflage  and  wis- 
dom. His  wonderful  legal  abilities  made  him  facile 
princeps  in  equity  law.  His  after  career  was  extraor- 
dinary. When  the  collapse  of  the  Confederate  Army 
came  he  was  still  in  Mr.  Davis's  Cabinet  and  joined  his 
chief  in  flight.  Separating,  however,  Benjamin  es- 
caped to  one  of  the  West  India  Islands  and  thence  to 
London.  It  seems  his  nativity  had  actually  been  in  a 
British  Colony,  and  this  fact  and  his  great  legal  ac- 
quirements, with  some  routine  attendance  at  the  courts, 
quickly  permitted  his  admittance  to  the  bar  and  he  was 
Q.  C.  in  almost  no  time.  He  immediately  took  up  an 
immense  special  practise  and  made  much  money. 

I  had  the  pleasure  of  meeting  him  in  1872  in  Paris, 
at  a  breakfast  given  by  Mr.  Francis  Corbin  in  his  splen- 


CONFEDERATE  STAFF  OFFICER        73 

did  hotel  on  the  Faubourg  St.  Germain.     Needless  to 
say,  Mr.  Benjamin  was  delightful. 

It  was  on  one  of  these  visits  to  my  brother  that  I 
nearly  came  to  trouble.  I  intended  to  ride  back  to 
camp  quite  early,  but  he  had  visits  for  me  to  make  with 
him  and  pressed  me  so  affectionately  that  I  was  late  in 
starting  back.  Then  a  furious  storm  of  rain  and  wind 
nearly  drowned  my  good  horse  and  myself  and  I  was 
concerned  for  the  late  hour  at  which  I  finally  reported 
to  my  chief.  I  found  him  provoked  at  my  absence, 
because  much  had  happened.  In  the  afternoon  a  coun- 
cil of  war  had  agreed  with  the  commander-in-chief  to 
attack  McClellan  the  next  morning.  The  opportunity 
was  a  good  one  because  McClellan  had  posted  his  forces 
so  that  the  Chickahominy  cut  them  in  two  and  they 
might  be  destroyed  in  detail.  I  was  not  too  late,  how- 
ever, for  the  duties,  and  both  Longstreet  and  myself 
were  soon  in  good  humor  again.  Orders  for  the  dis- 
positions of  the  troops  were  quickly  gotten  out  and  the 
time  and  line  of  march  given.  We  had  six  strong  bri- 
gades and  D.  H.  Hill's  four  were  to  join  us  under 
Longstreet,  besides  a  strong  force  of  artillery  and  a 
body  of  cavalry  on  the  right.  When  the  day  came 
(May  31)  the  movement  began,  and  never  was  the 
opening  for  battle  more  unsatisfactory. 

The  same  storm  that  put  McClellan's  army  in  de- 
cided peril  by  destroying  his  bridges  and  cutting  com- 
munication between  his  two  wings,  impeded  our  march 
at  every  step.  Little  rivulets  were  now  raging  torrents. 

Bridges  had  to  be  improvised  and  causeways  made 
by  which  the  column  could  be  moved.  Everything 
seemingly  lost  us  time,  and  our  attack,  instead  of  being 
early  in  the  day,  was  delayed  until  4  p.  m.  There 
shall  be  no  attempt  to  describe  or  discuss  this  battle. 


74  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  A 

G.  W.  Smith  with  a  large  command  was  on  our  left. 
General  Johnston  with  him  and  Major-General  Huger 
with  a  strong  division  was  expected  to  support  our 
right,  but  for  some  reason  we  did  not  get  it.  D.  H. 
Hill  with  his  four  brigades  and  our  six,  attacked  with 
great  fury.  Smith's  attack  on  the  left  was  retarded 
and  unsuccessful.  We  made  quick  progress,  but  with 
heavy  losses  in  our  ten  fine  brigades.  The  enemy 
could  not  stand  before  them  and  Casey's  division, 
posted  at  Seven  Points,  gave  way  after  heavy  losses 
and  was  crushed.  Cannon  and  colors  fell  into  our 
hands.  Darkness  was  then  coming  on  and  no  supports, 
much  to  Longstreet's  chagrin.  Further  attack  on  our 
part  was  deferred  until  the  morning.  Meantime,  while 
Smith  was  making  on  the  left  his  abortive  attack,  our 
gallant  General  Joseph  E.  Johnston  had  been  struck 
down  by  a  severe  wound  and  borne  from  the  field. 
The  second  in  command  was  G.  W.  Smith,  but  as  opera- 
tions for  the  day  had  ceased  there  was  no  occasion  for 
him  to  make  any  change  in  existing  dispositions  of  the 
troops,  and  Gen.  Robert  E.  Lee  was  the  next  day  placed 
in  command  of  the  Army  of  Northern  Virginia. 

Seven  Pines  should  under  all  circumstances  have 
been  a  magnificent  victory  for  us.  It  was  really  far 
from  that,  and  while  encouraging  the  soldiers  in  fight- 
ing and  the  belief  in  their  ability  to  beat  the  enemy,  it 
was  waste  of  life  and  a  great  disappointment. 

Walton,  of  Longstreet's  staff,  was  wounded  in  the 
head,  the  bullet  making  a  long  furrow  in  his  bald  scalp. 
Here  we  saw  for  the  first  time  the  German  Von  Borcke, 
who,  attached  later  to  Stuart's  cavalry,  made  some 
reputation.  He  had  just  arrived  and  could  not  speak  a 
word  of  English ;  was  splendidly  mounted  on  a  power- 
ful sorrel  and  rode  well.  He  was  an  ambulating  ar- 


CONFEDERATE  STAFF  OFFICER        75 

senal.  A  double-barreled  rifle  was  strapped  across  his 
back,  a  Winchester  carbine  hung  by  his  hip,  heavy  re- 
volvers were  in  his  belt,  right  and  left  side;  an  enor- 
mous straight  double-edged  sharp-pointed  cuirasseur's 
saber  hung  together  with  sabertasche  to  his  left  thigh, 
and  a  short  "  couteau  de  chasse  "  finished  up  his  right. 
Besides,  his  English  army  saddle  bore  two  large  hol- 
sters, one  for  his  field-glasses,  the  other  for  still  an- 
other revolver,  bigger  and  deadlier  than  all  the  others. 
Von  Borcke  was  a  powerful  creature  —  a  tall,  blonde, 
active  giant.  When  I  next  saw  him  he  had  discarded 
—  taught  by  experience  —  all  his  arsenal  except  his 
good  saber  and  a  couple  of  handy  revolvers.  He 
stayed  with  us  to  the  end  and  received  an  ugly  wound 
in  the  throat. 


CHAPTER  VIII 

BATTLES  OF  THE  CHICKAHOMINY,  JUNE  26 
TO  JULY  2,  1862 

General  Lee  in  command  —  Sketch  —  Reinforced  —  Preparing  for 
campaign  —  General  Lee's  staff  —  Longstreet  second  in  com- 
mand —  His  division  —  Artillery  reorganized  —  Washington 
Artillery  of  New  Orleans  —  Colonel  E.  P.  Alexander  com- 
manding artillery  —  General  W.  W.  Mackall  reports  — 
Sketch  —  Civilian  prisoners  at  Fort  Warren  —  General  Miles 
and  President  Davis  —  The  battles  around  Richmond  — 
McClellan's  defeat  —  Stonewall  Jackson  not  on  time  — 
Ochiltree  and  Eastern  fighting  —  Lord  Edward  St.  Maur  a 
visitor  — •  McClellan  on  James  River  in  position  —  Later  we 
take  again  positions  by  Richmond. 

When  General  Lee  took  command  it  was  my  first 
sight  of  him.  He  had  been  employed  in  the  northwest 
Virginia  mountains,  on  the  South  Atlantic  Coast,  and 
at  Richmond,  generally  as  adviser  to  the  President. 
His  appearance  had,  it  seems,  changed.  Up  to  a  short 
time  before  Seven  Pines  he  had  worn  for  beard  only 
a  well-kept  moustache,  soon  turned  from  black  to 
grizzled.  When  he  took  us  in  hand  his  full  gray  beard 
was  growing,  cropped  close,  and  always  well  tended. 
An  unusually  handsome  man,  he  has  been  painted  with 
brush  and  pen  a  hundred  times,  but  yet  there  is  always 
something  to  say  of  that  noble,  unostentatious  figure, 
the  perfect  poise  of  head  and  shoulders  and  limbs,  the 
strength  that  lay  hidden  and  the  activity  that  his  fifty- 
five  years  could  not  repress.  Withal  graceful  and 
easy,  he  was  approachable  by  all ;  gave  attention  to  all 
in  the  simplest  manner.  His  eyes  —  sad  eyes!  the 

76 


CONFEDERATE  STAFF  OFFICER        77 

saddest  it  seems  to  me  of  all  men's  —  beaming  the 
highest  intelligence  and  with  unvarying  kindliness,  yet 
with  command  so  firmly  set  that  all  knew  him  for  the 
unquestioned  chief.  He  loved  horses  and  had  good 
ones,  and  rode  carefully  and  safely,  but  I  never  liked 
his  seat.  The  General  was  always  well  dressed  in  gray 
sack-coat  of  Confederate  cloth,  matching  trousers 
tucked  into  well-fitting  riding-boots  —  the  simplest  em- 
blems of  his  rank  appearing,  and  a  good,  large  black 
felt  army  hat  completed  the  attire  of  our  commander. 
He  rarely  wore  his  sword,  but  his  binoculars  were  al- 
ways at  hand.  Fond  of  the  company  of  ladies,  he  had 
a  good  memory  for  pretty  girls.  His  white  teeth  and 
winning  smile  were  irresistible.  While  in  Savannah 
and  calling  on  my  father,  one  of  my  sisters  sang  for 
him.  Afterwards,  in  Virginia,  almost  as  soon  as  he 
saw  me  he  asked  after  his  "  little  singing-bird." 

The  touch  of  the  leader's  hand  was  soon  apparent  in 
the  reorganization  of  the  army  and  its  increased 
strength.  The  Administration  reposing  a  perfect  con- 
fidence in  Lee,  gave  him  all  he  asked  for  in  men  and 
material  that  could  be  furnished.  It  is  proper  to  add 
that  so  moderate  was  the  man  and  so  fully  understand- 
ing the  situation  and  difficulties  of  supply,  that  he  rarely 
asked  for  what  could  not  be  given  him.  His  staff  was 
small  and  efficient.  I  suppose  that  at  this  date  there 
are  some  hundreds  of  men  in  the  South  who  call  them- 
selves members  of  Lee's  staff,  and  so  they  were  if  team- 
sters, sentry  men,  detailed  quartermasters  (commis- 
sary men),  couriers  and  orderlies,  and  all  the  rest  of 
the  following  of  general  headquarters  of  a  great  army 
are  to  be  so  considered.  But  by  staff  we  usually  con- 
fine ourselves  to  those  responsible  officers  immediately 
about  a  general,  and  Lee  had  selected  carefully.  Four 


78  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  A 

majors  (afterwards  lieutenant-colonels  and  colonels) 
did  his  principal  work.  Walter  Taylor,  from  the  Vir- 
ginia Military  Institute,  was  adjutant-general,  and  bet- 
ter could  not  be  found  for  this  important  post. 

Charles  Venable,  a  scholar  and  mathematician,  and 
with  some  study  of  strategy,  together  with  Charles 
Marshall,  a  distinguished  lawyer  by  inheritance  from 
his  ancestor,  the  Chief  Justice,  and  his  own  attainments, 
did  much  of  the  correspondence  under  dictation.  Tal- 
cot  was  the  engineer  officer,  and  Long,  of  the  old  Army, 
a  close  friend  of  the  General,  was  ranked  as  military 
secretary  and  did  various  duties.  At  a  later  date  Brig.- 
Gen.  R.  H.  Chilton,  A.  A.  G.,  was  assigned  to  confiden- 
tial duties  with  the  General,  and  was  sometimes  called 
chief  of  staff.  But  Lee  really  had  no  such  chief  about 
him.  The  officer  practically  nearest  its  duties  was  his 
extremely  efficient  adjutant-general,  W.  H.  Taylor. 

Maj.  H.  E.  Young  was  also  attached  later  —  an  ex- 
cellent officer.  There  were  possible  one  or  two  young 
lieutenants  for  personal  aids,  but  this  was  Lee's  staff, 
although  perhaps  I  have  made  some  omissions.  Of 
course  it  does  not  include  the  important  administrative 
officers  like  Cole,  chief  commissary ;  Corley,  chief  quar- 
termaster; Doctor  Guild,  medical  director,  and  his 
chiefs  of  ordnance  and  other  organizations. 

Longstreet  was  second  in  command  and  it  soon  be- 
came apparent  that  he  was  to  be  quite  close  to  Lee. 
His  camps  and  bivouacs  were  near  by  the  General's, 
and  thus  my  acquaintance  with  him  and  his  staff  be- 
came quite  free  and  I  was  often  honored  by  the  kind 
interest  of  the  Commander-in-Chief. 

In  the  new  organization  Longstreet  had  a  powerful 
division  of  six  brigades,  and  A.  P.  Hill  (major-gen- 
eral) one  of  six,  also  a  fine  body  which  Hill  happily 


CONFEDERATE  STAFF  OFFICER        79 

christened  as  the  Light  Division.  The  artillery  was 
much  improved,  and  loose  batteries  were  gathered  and 
organized  into  well-found  battalions,  generally  of  four 
batteries  of  six  guns  each,  and  a  battalion  assigned  to 
each  division.  The  celebrated  Washington  Artillery 
of  New  Orleans  was  given  to  us,  and  glad  we  were  to 
have  such  gunners.  E.  P.  Alexander  commanded  in 
reserve  a  fine  battalion  of  six  batteries  and  was  to  do 
much  good  service  with  it. 

A  word  about  this  splendid  fellow.  He  was  from 
Georgia  and  a  dear  friend  of  mine.  Leaving  West 
Point  with  very  high  honors,  he  was  immediately  com- 
missioned into  the  Engineers,  and  sent  to  the  Pacific, 
whence  he  came  South  to  fight.  His  was  the  happiest 
and  most  hopeful  nature.  He  was  sure  of  winning  in 
everything  he  took  up,  and  never  did  he  open  his  guns 
on  the  enemy  but  that  he  knew  he  should  maul  him  into 
smithereens.  An  accomplished  engineer,  he  was  often 
called  on  both  by  Lee  and  Longstreet  for  technical  work 
and  special  reconnoitering.  His  future  in  peace,  after 
Appomattox,  was  varied  and  distinguished,  and  he  still 
is  with  us,  eager,  enthusiastic,  most  interesting,  and  of 
undiminished  abilities. 

The  Washington  Artillery  was  an  ancient  and 
wealthy  organization  of  New  Orleans,  numbering  five 
well-equipped,  well-manned  batteries.  There  were 
many  men  of  wealth  and  family  serving  as  gunners. 
Four  batteries  under  Colonel  Walton  came  to  Virginia, 
the  fifth  was  sent  West.  Walton  was  large  and  impos- 
ing in  appearance,  looking,  as  indeed  did  the  whole 
battalion,  rather  French.  This  arose  from  their  uni- 
form, which  from  "  kepi  "  to  gaiters  was  handsomely 
French,  and  made  them  very  fine  beside  our  homespun 
infantry  fellows.  It  was  a  most  efficient  organization, 


8o  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  A 

serving  with  Longstreet  throughout  the  war ;  it  always 
did  good  service  and  constantly  distinguished  itself 
most  conspicuously. 

Our  own  staff  will  not  be  touched  on  just  yet,  pre- 
ferring to  wait  for  the  creation  of  the  two  army  corps 
in  October,  when  we  were  put  in  more  permanent  shape 
for  the  remainder  of  the  war.  At  present  there  had 
been  but  few  additions  to  it,  since  Longstreet's  com- 
mand was  limited  to  a  single  brigade,  and  the  staff 
work  consequently  was  sometimes  hard  on  us. 

I  think  it  was  in  this  month,  September,  that  I  rode 
to  one  of  the  lower  landings  of  the  James  to  meet  Gen- 
eral Mackall,  my  brother-in-law.  He  had  been  a  pris- 
oner of  war  at  Fort  Warren  near  Boston,  and  was  to 
land,  exchanged  with  some  others  from  the  Federal 
steamer.  He  was  quite  well  and  I  sent  him  on  to 
Richmond,  where  Doctor  Sorrel  saw  to  his  comfort. 
Mackall  married  my  father's  eldest  daughter.  He  was 
an  army  man  out  of  West  Point,  and  an  able,  accom- 
plished soldier.  He  should  have  achieved  much  in  the 
Confederate  war,  but  circumstances  were  against  him. 
When  it  broke  out  he  was  lieutenant-colonel  in  the 
Adjutant-General's  Department,  considered  a  very  en- 
viable billet.  Stationed  on  the  Pacific,  his  intimates 
were  J.  E.  Johnston,  J.  F.  Gilmer,  Halleck,  and  others 
of  that  type. 

The  Marylander  had  a  tedious  time  in  Richmond 
waiting  for  active  service  suitable  to  his  abilities.  At 
last  he  was  sent  to  report  to  A.  S.  Johnston  at  Bowling 
Green,  Kentucky.  After  Shiloh,  at  Beauregard's 
earnest  request,  he  was  made  brigadier-general  and 
ordered  to  hold  Island  No.  10,  a  fortified  position  in 
the  Mississippi,  immediately  to  fall  by  reason  of  other 
combinations.  In  less  than  a  week  after  assuming 


CONFEDERATE  STAFF  OFFICER       81 

command  the  inevitable  happened.  The  island  was 
surrendered  and  the  garrison  made  prisoners  of  war. 
Mackall  was  sent  to  Fort  Warren,  from  which  he  was 
exchanged  in  1863.  He  then  took  duty  with  Bragg' s 
army  as  chief  of  staff;  and  after  Bragg  with  J.  E. 
Johnston,  one  of  his  dearest  friends,  until  the  General 
was  supplanted  by  Hood.  Mackall  was  afterwards 
given  a  command  at  Mobile,  from  which,  however,  he 
soon  had  to  withdraw  his  force  by  reason  of  the  suc- 
cesses of  the  Federal  fleet.  And  there,  I  think,  his  ac- 
tive service  ended.  He  was  of  a  high  order  of  mind 
and  of  the  finest  and  nicest  elevation  of  character; 
there  was  something  supercritical,  however,  that  would 
stand  in  his  way  without  reason. 

When  General  Mackall  was  exchanged  out  of  Fort 
Warren  he  told  me  of  two  other  prisoners,  civilians, 
Andrew  Low  and  Charles  Green.  The  latter  had 
married  my  cousin,  and  both  were  Englishmen  of  the 
regular  holdfast,  energetic  type.  They  constituted  the 
most  important  business  house  in  Savannah,  were  mak- 
ing quantities  of  money,  but  had  quarrelled  and  were 
about  separating  on  the  worst  terms,  when  Seward's 
detectives,  suspicious  of  their  movements  (they  had 
both  married  in  Savannah  and  were  truly  Southern  and 
Confederate),  clapped  them  in  Fort  Warren.  There 
by  the  irony  of  fate  they  were  the  sole  occupants  of 
the  same  casemate,  these  quondam  friends,  now  bitter, 
non-speaking  enemies.  The  situation  was  difficult  and 
rather  enjoyed  by  some  gentlemen  outside  who  knew 
of  the  partners'  troubles. 

Treatment  of  prisoners  of  war  at  Fort  Warren 
(Boston  Harbor)  appears  to  have  been  proper  and  un- 
objectionable. The  governor,  Colonel  Dimmock,  was 
a  gentleman  and  knew  what  was  due  to  his  own  repu- 


82  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  A 

tation,  as  well  as  what  his  prisoners  had  a  right  to 
expect.  There  were  marked  contrasts  elsewhere,  as  at 
Fort  Johnston,  but  in  all  the  four  years  there  was  yet 
to  be  found  a  prison  commandant  surpassing  the  bru- 
talities of  Miles.  His  chief  distinction  then  appears 
to  have  been  in  manacling  the  helpless  President  of  the 
Confederate  States,  who  was  advanced  in  years,  feeble 
in  health,  with  no  friends  near,  and  that  in  the  strong- 
est fortress  in  the  United  States,  with  a  large  garrison 
and  a  guard  literally  standing  over  the  prisoner  night 
and  day,  and  not  a  Confederate  organized  force  in 
existence. 

Lee  was  an  aggressive  general,  a  fighter.  To  suc- 
ceed, he  knew  battles  were  to  be  won,  and  battles  cost 
blood,  and  blood  he  did  not  mind  in  his  general's  work. 
Although  always  considerate  and  sparing  of  his  sol- 
diers, he  would  pour  out  their  blood  when  necessary  or 
when  strategically  advisable.  His  army  had  become 
much  strengthened,  troops  filled  its  ranks  from  Geor- 
gia, South  and  North  Carolina,  being  drawn  from  the 
coast,  where  they  were  doing  nothing.  His  divisions 
had  among  them  Longstreet's,  A.  P.  Hill's,  Magruder's, 
D.  H.  Hill's,  McLane's,  D.  R.  Jones's,  Huger's,  and 
Whiting's  —  a  splendid  force,  nearly  eighty  thousand 
men,  including  Jackson's.  The  latter  was  in  the  Val- 
ley, soon  to  be  with  us.  Lawton  had  just  taken  his 
immense  brigade  of  six  thousand  men  from  Savannah 
to  reinforce  him,  and  the  Georgians  were  having  some 
lively  marching  and  fighting  in  "  Stonewall  "  Jackson's 
way.  It  was  evident  that  the  General  was  soon  to 
make  his  great  attack  to  crush  McClellan,  whose  dis- 
positions were  so  faulty  as  to  offer  a  tempting  mark. 
His  army  greatly  outnumbered  ours.  He  had  thrown 
it  across  the  Chickahominy  and  its  two  wings  were 


CONFEDERATE  STAFF  OFFICER       83 

again  exposed.  There  were  quiet  but  intense  prepara- 
tions for  the  important  movement. 

It  was  of  great  extent  and  covered  nearly  seven  days. 
Jackson  was  to  move  secretly  and  swiftly  from  the 
Valley  and  join  Lee  in  the  attack  on  the  Federal  right. 
He  was  late,  and  when  Lee  crossed  at  Mechanicsville, 
June  26,  A.  P.  Hill  was  thrown  at  the  defenses  on 
Beaver  Dam,  and  was  nearly  sacrificed.  His  losses 
were  pitiable,  as  were  D.  H.  Hill's  in  the  same  attack. 
Had  Jackson  been  in  position  the  enemy  would  have 
melted  before  us.  He  had  promised  to  be  there  on  the 
morning  of  the  26th.  On  the  2/th,  Longstreet,  A.  P. 
Hill,  Whiting,  and  others  stormed  the  heights  at 
Gaines's  Mill,  suffering  heavy  loss,  but  defeating  the 
enemy  badly,  taking  many  prisoners,  guns  and  colors, 
and  driving  him  in  panic  after  the  retreating  McClel- 
lan.  There  was  great  maneuvering  on  the  26th,  and  a 
severe  combat  at  Savage's  Station.  On-  the  3Oth  the 
enemy  showed  front  at  Fraser's  Farm,  and  Longstreet, 
supported  by  A.  P.  Hill,  instantly  attacked  with  great 
fury.  The  enemy  was  stubborn  and  contested  every 
foot.  Jackson  was  to  be  with  us,  and  had  he  been,  our 
success  was  undoubted,  but  for  some  reason  he  could 
not  get  through  White  Oak  Swamp,  and  denied  us. 
Of  Huger  on  the  right  we  also  heard  nothing.  The 
combination  had  failed.  The  enemy  was  thus  suffered 
to  escape,  but  with  heavy  loss.  Our  own  was  far  from 
light. 

Malvern  Hill  followed  with  its  bloody  fields  and 
crest.  The  reckoning  there  was  awful  and  apparently 
for  no  good.  McClellan  abandoned  the  hill  at  night 
and  soon  found  himself  safe  at  Harrison's  Landing  un- 
der cover  of  his  cruisers  and  gun-boats.  His  army  was 
beaten  and  dispirited  and  the  siege  of  Richmond  broken 


84  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  A 

up ;  but  "  Little  Mac  "  raised  a  faint  cry  of  partial  vic- 
tory and  did  not  fail  to  torment  poor  Mr.  Lincoln  for 
more  men;  "  heavy  reinforcements  could  alone  save  the 
army,"  etc. 

Jackson's  firmest  friends  have  been  obliged  to  admit 
some  faults  in  their  hero.  As  to  these  movements  — 
either  from  miscalculation  or  something  else,  he  was 
fatally  late  on  the  26th.  That  he  was  not  on  hand  at 
Eraser's  Farm  was  also  a  serious  disaster.  Some  of 
Munford's  cavalry  had  got  through  White  Oak  Swamp, 
bad  as  it  was  with  a  heavy  rain  falling,  and  it  would 
seem  that  a  soldier  so  great  and  energetic  as  Jackson 
would  have  found  means  to  push  through  to  the  help 
of  fighting,  hard-pressed  comrades.  It  is  possible  that 
he  was  overdone  with  work  and  fatigue,  but  his  men 
should  have  been  there  as  planned. 

I  saw  him  on  the  28th,  and  he  seemed  brisk  enough. 
Longstreet  had  sent  me  after  Gaines's  Mill  to  find  him 
and  establish  connections  and  communications.  He 
was  cheerful  and  pleasant.  "  Explain,  Major,  to  Gen- 
eral Longstreet  where  I  am  and  how  my  troops  are  ly- 
ing, and  say,  with  my  compliments,  I  am  ready  to  obey 
any  orders  he  may  send  me."  When  I  set  out  to  find 
him,  Tom  Ochiltree,  fresh  and  breezy  from  Texas,  was 
with  us  for  a  week  as  a  volunteer  by  Longstreet' s  con- 
sent. Ochiltree  said,  that  familiar  with  fighting  in 
Texas,  he  wanted  to  see  how  we  did  it  in  the  East. 
He  had  also  a  great  desire  to  see  the  celebrated 
"  Stonewall  "  before  returning  home.  He  asked  per- 
mission to  ride  with  me.  We  trotted  off  together,  our 
route  taking  us  by  an  extensive  field-infirmary,  where 
the  surgeons  were  at  their  bloody  work  on  the  wounded. 
We  halted  for  a  few  minutes.  The  scene  was  sicken- 
ing and  cured  Ochiltree  of  battle  sights.  "  Sorrel," 


CONFEDERATE  STAFF  OFFICER       85 

he  said  very  seriously,  "  this  gives  me  enough ;  I  don't 
want  any  more.  It  seems  now  I  have  seen  everything 
—  too  much,  nothing  for  me  to  do  here.  Better  for 
me  to  ride  back  to  Richmond  and  take  train  for  Texas. 
Sorry  not  to  see  *  Stonewall,'  but  I  travel  the  other 
way.  Good-by  and  good  luck  to  you."  And  off  he 
went  after  just  about  four  days'  service  with  the  Con- 
federates in  the  East. 

During  these  movements  there  was  a  young  English- 
man with  us,  our  guest.  He  had  brought  letters  to 
authorities  in  Richmond.  It  was  Lord  Edward  St. 
Maur,  a  scion  of  the  ducal  house  of  Somerset.  He  was 
about  twenty-one,  just  from  the  University,  where  he 
had  taken  high  honors,  and  was  around  now  with  an 
Englishman's  curiosity.  A  singularly  handsome  young 
man  he  was,  with  pure  olive  skin  and  beautiful  fea- 
tures. He  was  always  courteous,  always  reserved. 
He  came  as  a  neutral  for  observation,  and  in  all  the 
freedom  of  our  fighting  week  and  rough  bivouacs  noth- 
ing stirred  him  from  that  attitude.  In  truth,  I  don't 
think  he  approved  of  us.  I  afterwards  heard  he  was 
something  of  a  prig  but  destined  for  high  political  life. 
The  battle  of  Fraser's  Farm  broke  out  in  the  afternoon 
with  great  suddenness  and  severity.  I  had  given  St. 
Maur  a  mount  and  we  happened  to  be  on  the  line 
among  the  men  when  firing  began,  but  notwithstanding 
the  cannonading  and  heavy  musketry  he  was  quite  cool. 
"  This  is  not  my  place,"  he  said,  "  and  with  your  per- 
mission I  shall  retire,"  doing  so  with  entire  delibera- 
tion ;  he  so  placed  himself  as  to  see  something  and  we 
talked  it  over  when  we  met  at  night.  When  McClellan 
took  cover  at  Harrison's  Landing,  St.  Maur  was  given 
an  officer  and  flag  of  truce  and  soon  landed  in  the  home 
of  his  fathers.  A  very  careful,  neutral  chap.  I  was 


86       CONFEDERATE  STAFF  OFFICER 

sorry  for  his  end  —  hunting  big  game  in  India  soon 
after,  he  was  mauled  and  eaten  by  a  tiger. 

When  McClellan  was  safely  at  Harrison's  Landing 
under  cover  of  heavy  guns  (some  fifteen-inch  spherical 
shell),  there  was  nothing  to  keep  our  army  there.  Be- 
sides, it  left  Richmond  somewhat  exposed  from  the 
direction  of  Fredericksburg.  General  Lee,  therefore, 
gave  the  word  and  we  were  soon  again  in,  or  near,  our 
old  positions.  Everything  was  made  ship-shape,  the 
wounded  mending  and  returning  to  duty,  damages  re- 
paired, and  the  waste  of  that  extraordinary  movement 
and  series  of  battles  made  good  as  best  could  be.  Mc- 
Clellan could  not  now  see  the  spires  of  Richmond  from 
his  headquarters.  Additional  reinforcements  were 
brought  from  the  South  in  preparation  for  Lee's  next 
move,  for  he  was  not  the  man  to  stay  idly  behind  de- 
fenses when  there  was  an  enemy  about  that  he  might 
hopefully  strike.  Longstreet's  division  of  six  brigades 
was  in  fine  condition,  with  filling  ranks,  and  so  was  A. 
P.  Hill's  Light  Division,  which  lay  near  us,  and  thereby 
hangs  a  tale  which  must  be  recited,  I  fear,  at  some  little 
length. 


CHAPTER  IX 
RIVALRY  AND  MORE  REMINISCENSES 

Longstreet's  and  A.  P.  Hill's  divisions  —  Rivalry  between  the  two 

—  Publications  in  Richmond  Examiner  and  Whig  —  General 
Hill   resentful  —  Refuses   recognition   of   Longstreet's   adju- 
tant-general —  Hill    in   arrest  —  Personal   difficulty   between 
the  two  major-generals  adjusted  by  General  Lee's  influence 

—  General  Hill  cherishes  no  rancor  —  Later  gave  me  a  brig- 
ade— Army  busy  drilling  —  Quartermaster  Potts  and  Major 
Fairfax  —  Books  among  the  troops  —  Gambling. 

There  was  some  rivalry  between  the  two  splendid 
divisions.  Each  had  done  its  full  share  of  fighting  in 
the  recent  battles  and  each  had  won  glory  and  renown. 
Hill  had  handled  his  men  well  and  fought  them  gal- 
lantly. Needless  to  say  how  Longstreet  had  held  his 
men,  as  it  were,  in  the  hollow  of  his  hand  (his  abilities 
for  handling  large  bodies  under  fire  being  remarkable), 
and  how  his  never-failing  valor  and  tenacity  had  sup- 
ported them.  The  papers  came  out  of  Richmond 
daily,  with  fetching  headlines  and  columns  of  descrip- 
tion giving  the  events  of  the  previous  day.  One  of 
the  widest  read  of  these  was  The  Examiner,  very  bril- 
liantly edited.  It  seemed  to  have  taken  Hill's  division 
under  its  special  favor.  Every  movement  was  chron- 
icled, every  clash  of  arms,  no  matter  how  trifling,  was 
written  up,  and  the  grand  movements  and  actions  of  the 
division  given  such  prominence  as  to  dwarf  all  other 
commands.  There  was  some  feeling  growing  up  about 
it,  especially  since  it  was  known  that  a  newspaper  man 
from  The  Examiner  office  was  serving  temporarily  on 

87 


88  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  A 

Hill's  staff.  Nothing  was  then  done  about  the  matter, 
but  Longstreet's  young  staff  officers  were  quite  at  the 
fighting  point,  as  our  division  had  come  in  for  some 
animadversions  in  The  Examiner. 

After  the  short  campaign,  while  we  were  occupying 
some  of  our  old  positions  about  Richmond,  Hill  lying 
near  by,  under  command  of  Longstreet,  the  latter  came 
one  day  to  me  with  a  rough  draft  of  a  short  communi- 
cation to  The  Whig,  a  Richmond  paper.  It  flatly  con- 
tradicted The  Examiner,  so  far  as  Longstreet's  divi- 
sion was  concerned,  and  criticized  the  major-general 
who  could  suffer  such  reports  to  emanate  from  his  own 
staff;  it  was  short  but  positive.  Longstreet  asked  if  I 
objected  to  send  such  a  communication  to  The  Whig, 
signed  by  myself  officially,  as  adjutant-general.  He 
would  answer  for  it,  because  I  should  not  be  expected 
alone  to  attack  or  criticize  my  superior  officer.  I  was 
only  too  willing  to  carry  out  these  wishes.  The  little 
note  was  prepared  for  the  press  and  published  in  The 
Whig.  It  was  stiff,  but  with  military  civility,  and 
made  some  comment  on  the  taste  of  having  such  corre- 
spondents along  with  military  operations.  It  was  not 
regarded  as  offensive,  but  was  certainly  pointed  in  some 
contradiction.  To  my  regret  I  have  no  copy. 

Such  was  the  bomb-shell  that  was  to  burst  over  us  in 
a  few  days.  Having  occasion  for  some  routine  report 
or  information  from  General  A.  P.  Hill,  a  note  was 
sent  him  for  it  in  the  usual  form.  It  was  returned  en- 
dorsed that  "  General  Hill  declined  to  hold  further 
communication  with  Major  Sorrel."  Of  course  I  was 
surprised,  but  it  was  apparent  that  trouble  was  brewing 
and  that  Longstreet  must  show  his  hand.  The  note 
was  handed  him  and  he  was  at  once  on  fire  at  such  dis- 
obedience. "  Write  him  again,"  said  he,  "  and  say 


CONFEDERATE  STAFF  OFFICER       89 

that  note  was  written  by  my  command,  and  must  be 
answered  satisfactorily." 

To  this  Hill  insisted  on  holding  to  his  refusal.  The 
correspondence  was  then  taken  up  by  Longstreet  per- 
sonally with  Hill.  I  did  not  see  the  letters,  but  several 
passed,  until  finally,  a  day  or  two  later,  General  Long- 
street  came  to  me  with,  "  Major,  you  will  be  good 
enough  to  put  on  your  sword  and  sash,  mount,  and 
place  Major-General  Hill  in  arrest,  with  orders  to  con- 
fine himself  to  limits  of  his  camp  and  vicinity."  It 
was  my  first  duty  of  that  kind  with  such  rank,  but  I 
was  soon  on  my  way,  followed  by  an  orderly.  The 
General  was  in  his  tent  seated  in  a  low  chair,  and  rose 
as  I  entered,  returning  stiffly  my  salute.  Bowing, 
when  I  had  communicated  the  orders,  he  resumed  his 
chair  without  speech,  and  saluting  again,  I  was  quickly 
on  the  road  to  my  own  friendly  camp.  I  know  only  by 
hearsay  what  took  place  afterwards.  It  was  kept  quite 
out  of  reach  of  the  staff  and  confined  to  the  two  prin- 
cipals. Certain  it  is,  however,  that  some  angry  letters 
passed  and  intimate  friends  (D.  H.  Hill  and  Toombs 
for  Longstreet)  were  called  in  and  a  hostile  meeting 
between  the  two  generals  was  almost  certain.  Gen- 
eral Lee,  however,  heard  of  it,  and  acted  quickly  and 
effectively,  using  his  unvarying  tact  and  great  influence. 
He  brought  matters,  through  other  friends,  to  an  ad- 
justment honorable  to  both.  A  few  days  later  General 
Hill's  division  was  shifted  out  of  reach  of  Longstreet's 
command  and  nothing  more  was  known  of  the  affair. 
Later  on  Longstreet  and  Hill  became  fairly  good 
friends,  but  I  naturally  supposed  I  had  incurred  his 
hatred.  For  a  year  or  two  we  did  not  meet  —  his 
division  being  in  Jackson's  corps  —  except  occasionally 
on  the  march,  and  then  the  General's  manner  seemed  to 


90  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  A 

me  stiff  and  menacing.  If  so,  it  was  only  the  manner, 
not  the  feeling,  because  in  1864  I  received  from  Gen- 
eral Hill  the  very  highest  evidence  of  his  appreciation 
and  friendliness.  On  several  occasions  previously, 
Longstreet  recommended  me  for  promotion  to  com- 
mand, and  it  must  necessarily  be  to  a  brigade  of  Geor- 
gians. But  where  a  brigadier  was  wanted  for  them, 
there  were  always  good  colonels  of  long  service  in  the 
brigade  that  properly  gained  the  preference.  This  was 
so  general  that  I  despaired  of  leaving  the  staff  for 
higher  promotion,  until  one  day  in  September,  1864,  a 
cbmmission  of  brigadier-general  came  to  me  with 
orders  to  report  to  Lieut-Gen.  A.  P.  Hill. 

My  preparations  began  at  once  for  the  change  and 
it  was  necessary  for  me  to  go  to  the  War  Department, 
Richmond.  There  I  found  in  the  Adjutant-General's 
Office  Capt.  John  W.  Reilly,  A.  A.  G.,  a  fine  young  Vir- 
ginia officer,  who  had  once  served  under  me. 

"  Did  you  ever  see,  General,  the  paper  that  brought 
about  your  promotion  ?  "  It  was  entirely  new  to  me. 
He  drew  from  a  file  a  letter  from  Gen.  A.  P.  Hill,  com- 
menting on  the  bad  condition  of  his  fine  Georgia  Bri- 
gade, which,  left  without  a  brigadier  by  the  wounds  of 
Wright  and  the  death  of  Girardy,  was  then  in  the  hands 
of  a  brave  but  incompetent  colonel.  He  concluded  by 
asking  with  great  earnestness  that  Lieutenant-Colonel 
Sorrel,  of  Longstreet's  corps,  should  be  promoted  and 
sent  to  him.  The  letter  was  referred  to  General  Lee 
for  his  opinion  and  then  passed  between  the  Adjutant- 
General,  the  Secretary  of  War,  and  the  President,  who 
finally  scrawled,  "  Make  the  appointment,  J.  D." 

I  tried  to  get  the  paper  from  Reilly  as  an  autographic 
souvenir,  but  it  was  against  orders  and  I  was  obliged 
to  content  myself  with  a  certified  copy.  "  It  never 


CONFEDERATE  STAFF  OFFICER        91 

rains  but  it  pours ; "  some  days  after,  Major-General 
Kershaw  wrote  me  that  he  (Kershaw)  had  asked  for 
my  promotion  to  command  one  of  his  Georgia  brigades. 

Hill  was  a  West  Point  man  of  medium  height,  a 
light,  good  figure,  and  most  pleasing  soldierly  appear- 
ance. He  surely  handled  his  division  on  all  occasions 
with  great  ability  and  courage  and  justly  earned  high 
reputation.  When  Lee  created  the  Third  Army  Corps 
he  placed  him  in  command  of  it,  and  it  was  thought 
Hill  did  not  realize  in  that  high  position  all  that  was 
hoped  of  him. 

His  health  was  impaired  toward  the  close  of  the  war, 
and  his  noble  life  ended  by  a  stray  bullet  at  Petersburg 
after  withdrawal  of  the  lines.  It  was  unnecessary  and 
he  should  have  had  years  before  him.  It  is  not  neces- 
sary to  say  how  much  I  appreciated  his  action  toward 
myself.  It  proved  him  magnanimous  and  free  of 
petty  spite  in  that  affair,  and  such  was  his  nature. 
When  I  reported  to  him  no  one  could  have  been  more 
warmly  welcomed,  and  thenceforward  I  had  nothing 
but  kindness  and  the  most  valuable  support  and  help 
while  with  his  corps. 

A.  P.  Hill  was  very  close  to  both  Generals  Lee  and 
Stonewall  Jackson  at  different  times.  Perhaps  only  a 
coincidence,  but  certainly  significant  it  is,  that,  the  last 
dying  words  of  the  two  military  chiefs  were  said  to  be 
of  Hill.  "  Send  word  to  A.  P.  Hill,"  whispered  the 
expiring  Jackson.  "  Tell  Hill  he  must  come  up,"  were 
the  last  words  on  Lee's  lips. 

July  and  early  August,  1862,  were  busy  months.  In 
front  of  Richmond  General  Lee  kept  the  army  well 
exercised  in  drill  and  the  new  men  had  to  get  into 
shape.  Our  staff  work  had  been  severe  and  our  horses 
had  suffered.  I  was  obliged  to  keep  two  good  mounts 


92  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  A 

at  least,  sometimes  more.  It  was  here  I  fell  in  love 
with  a  perfect  little  stallion  named  Voltaire,  and  paid  a 
round  price  for  him;  he  soon  proved  too  delicate  for 
army  work  and  I  gave  him  to  my  brother  in  Richmond. 
There  he  should  have  thriven,  but  I  think  soon  went  to 
pieces.  I  succeeded  in  finding  a  handsome,  powerful 
chestnut  mare,  f  rom  which  I  got  good  service  until  she 
was  killed  at  Gettysburg.  Longstreet  was  admirably 
mounted  on  two  bays ;  one  he  had  brought  to  the  army 
with  him,  the  other,  a  finer  beast,  was  a  present  from 
Major  Fairfax,  whose  horse  judgment  was  excellent. 
For  himself,  he  rode  a  superb  gray  stallion,  "  Saltron," 
widely  known,  which  he  had  raised  at  his  Loudoun  es- 
tate. Fairfax  lost  him  at  Sharpsburg.  A  round  shot 
struck  him  under  the  tail,  fairly  in  the  fundament,  and 
it  was  at  once  all  over  with  the  stallion.  Fairfax  was 
excitable,  and  rushing  to  Longstreet,  sitting  grimly  on 
his  horse  directing  the  battle,  he  broke  out,  "  General, 
General,  my  horse  is  killed ;  Saltron  is  shot ;  shot  right 
in  the  back !  "  Longstreet  gave  the  Major  a  queer  look 
and  consoled  him  with,  "  Never  mind,  Major,  you 
ought  to  be  glad  you  are  not  shot  in  your  own  back!  " 
Frank  Potts,  a  quartermaster  in  the  corps,  tells  a 
story  of  these  two.  Fairfax  messed  General  Long- 
street,  took  good  care  of  all  his  wants,  and  kept  him  in 
whiskey  and  in  all  else  that  was  needful.  Potts  says 
that  in  one  of  the  campaigns  he  had  parked  his  animals 
and  wagons  in  a  nice  spot  by  the  roadside  at  a  good 
hour  and  everything  was  made  snug  for  the  night's 
bivouac  until  the  early  march  next  morning.  Sud- 
denly he  saw  a  figure  galloping  wildly  across  the  fields 
to  him,  taking  fences  and  ditches  as  he  came.  "  Now," 
grumbled  Potts,  "  it's  a  move ;  here  are  the  orders  com- 
ing." It  was  Major  Fairfax  in  full  uniform.  He 


CONFEDERATE  STAFF  OFFICER       93 

pulled  up  sharply  before  the  quartermaster,  saluted,  and 
then,  "  Captain  Potts,  can  you  tell  me  where  a  washer- 
woman is  to  be  found  for  General  Longstreet?"  re- 
lieved the  Irishman  and  tickled  his  humor. 

During  the  war  the  men  were  without  many  books 
and  eagerly  clung  to  a  novel  when  one  came  their  way. 
Many  old  volumes  were  sent  from  home,  but  they  did 
not  go  far  among  such  numbers.  Victor  Hugo's  "  Les 
Miserables,"  and  Muhlbach's  novels,  translated  from 
the  German,  and  reprinted  at  Mobile,  had  begun  to  ap- 
pear and  were  devoured  by  readers.  Later  on,  after 
Gettysburg,  Freemantle's  "  Three  Months  in  the  South- 
ern States  "  was  reprinted  at  Mobile  and  widely  read. 
These  old  volumes  are  now  a  curiosity  and  not  to  be 
had  except  at  great  price.  The  dirty  old  type,  blurred 
and  worn,  the  rough  paper  with  florid  designs,  all  at- 
tested the  stress  of  the  Confederacy  in  everything  en- 
tering into  life.  Among  the  soldiers  in  camp  there  was 
the  usual  gambling  going  on;  they  played  some  odd 
sorts  of  games,  but  the  greasiest  packs  of  cards  were 
their  stand-by. 

One  day  Longstreet  received  a  note  from  General 
Lee,  after  a  ride  through  our  camps.  This  informed 
the  corps  commander  that  he  regretted  to  see  so  much 
gambling  among  the  men;  they  nearly  all  seemed  ab- 
sorbed in  a  game  called  "  Chuck-a-luck."  "  Could 
anything  be  done  to  better  the  matter  ?  "  Longstreet 
had  served  much  with  soldiers,  and  knew  they  would, 
many  of  them,  gamble  in  camp  in  spite  of  all  orders  and 
watching ;  never  yet  had  he  found  anything  that  would 
completely  cure  the  evil.  He  would,  however,  see  what 
could  be  done  —  but  nothing  came  of  it. 


CHAPTER  X 

SECOND  BATTLE  OF  MANASSAS,  AUGUST  29 
AND  30,  1862 

Major-General  Pope  in  command  of  Union  troops  in  Northern 
Virginia  —  Religious  observances  in  our  army  —  Homesick- 
ness —  Furloughs  —  Rations  —  March  against  Pope  —  Artil- 
lery duel  at  Rappahannock  —  Spy  captured  and  hung  —  Jack- 
son's marches  —  Thoroughfare  Gap  —  Longstreet's  attack  — 
Enemy  routed  —  General  Wilcox  and  Union  general  —  Wil- 
cox's  and  Couch's  baptismals  —  Brig.-Gen.  A.  G.  Evans  — 
General  Toombs  and  the  picket  —  His  arrest  —  Released  and 
joins  brigade  in  the  fight. 

McClellan  still  lay  at  Westover,  recruiting  and  reor- 
ganizing. It  was  apparent  that  his  army  would  not  be 
long  in  that  position.  Confidence  in  him  had  been  lost, 
and  there  was  a  new  paladin  in  the  field,  the  doughty 
John  Pope,  major-general,  with  "  Headquarters  in  the 
saddle."  He  was  a  man  of  some  ability,  but  did  not 
have  a  reputation  for  high  character  in  the  old  Army ; 
and  now  with  elevated  rank  and  command  thrust  upon 
him,  he  turned  into  abuse  of  his  enemy,  explained  how 
he  meant  to  whip  him,  and  filled  the  air  with  bombast 
and  threatening.  He  was  in  command  in  northern 
Virginia,  and  Lee  had  marked  him  for  his  own. 

We  were  rather  a  devout  army.  The  men  came 
from  their  homes  deeply  tinged  with  religion.  Metho- 
dists were  in  large  numbers  and  next  to  them  Baptists 
and  Presbyterians.  There  were  many  meetings  and 
addresses  conducted  by  worthy  chaplains.  These  de- 
voted ministers  could  always  be  counted  on  to  follow 

94 


CONFEDERATE  STAFF  OFFICER        95 

beside  their  men,  in  camp  or  on  the  firing  line.  The 
men  were  fond  of  hearing  in  camp  any  kind  of  address, 
and  were  an  easy  prey  to  sharpers.  I  recall  that  some 
years  later,  on  the  Petersburg  line,  a  crank  came  along 
with  what  he  called  an  artis-avis  (a  bird  of  art)  with 
him,  and  some  fifty  thousand  like  it;  he  was  to  drop  a 
shell  into  Grant's  army  and  fleet  and  destroy  them! 
He  wanted  permission  to  address  my  men  and  solicit 
cash  for  building  his  wonderful  birds.  He  was  sent 
out  of  camp.  The  soldiers  were  fond  of  chanting 
hymns  and  quaint  old  plantation  airs,  and  at  times 
they  were  touching  with  the  recollections  of  home. 
Homesickness  was  often  very  prevalent,  and  the  awful 
nostalgia  came  near  crippling  us.  There  is  a  general 
order  from  Longstreet  on  that  matter  somewhere  and 
I  may  be  able  to  find  it  to  attach  to  these  leaves. 

At  this  date,  July  and  August,  1862,  food  was  plen- 
tiful and  good.  No  variety,  but  fresh  beef  or  bacon, 
flour,  coffee  and  sugar  were  issued  in  full  rations. 
There  was  an  abundance  of  whiskey,  but  comparatively 
little  drunkenness.  Encouragement  and  incentives  to 
good  conduct  came  from  the  General-in-Chief  down 
through  the  officers.  Previous  to  the  Chickahominy 
Campaign  a  balloon  had  been  constructed  for  recon- 
noitering.  The  enemy  had  several  and  we  also  wanted 
one,  so  the  women  —  Heaven  bless  them !  —  came  to 
the  front  with,  it  may  be,  tearful  eyes  but  willing  hearts 
and  chipped  in  all  their  pretty  silk  frocks  and  gowns. 
It  was  a  wonderfully  picturesque  balloon  and  at  first 
did  some  little  service,  captive  to  a  locomotive  pushed 
far  to  the  front.  Then  it  was  packed  on  a  little  steam- 
boat in  an  adventurous  cruise  down  the  James.  She 
ran  aground,  was  gobbled  up,  with  the  bright  ball-dress 
balloon,  by  the  delighted  Yankees,  and  that  was  the  last 


96  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  A 

of  the  pretty  things  of  our  sisters,  sweethearts,  and 
wives. 

But  the  march  against  Pope  is  now  beginning  and 
must  have  a  little  space.  The  movement  was  masked 
as  much  as  possible,  a  few  troops  only  being  at  first 
concentrated  at  Gordonsville  by  rail.  Lee  collected 
then  his  outlying  commands  with  great  skill  and  started 
in  earnest  against  his  braggart  opponent.  Pope  seems 
to  have  quite  underestimated  or  disbelieved  what  was 
awaiting  him,  and  his  dispositions  were  all  in  favor  of 
Lee.  His  first  rude  awakening  was  the  shock  Jackson 
gave  him  at  Cedar  Mountain,  very  costly  to  him;  but 
we  lost  Charles  Winder,  one  of  the  finest  and  most 
promising  of  the  brigadiers.  The  march  of  the  army 
was  in  tactical  language  "  left  in  front,"  Jackson's  posi- 
tion throwing  him  on  the  left;  and  this  formation  was 
necessarily  observed  by  all  the  commands  of  the  army. 
In  these  operations  Stuart  and  his  cavalry  were  exceed- 
ingly active  and  performed  most  valuable  service.  Our 
command,  the  full  division,  and  two  smaller  ones  under 
D.  R.  Jones  and  N.  G.  Evans,  came  to  a  halt  hunting  a 
ford  on  the  Rappahannock  and  found  a  strong  force  of 
the  enemy,  with  good  artillery,  at  the  railroad  bridge. 
The  gunners  (ours  the  Washington  Artillery)  on  both 
sides  took  up  an  artillery  duel  for  nearly  all  day,  but 
nothing  decisive  was  achieved.  We  forded  the  river 
in  another  place  without  opposition. 

It  was  in  these  operations  that  a  spy  was  taken.  He 
had  murdered  one  of  our  cavalry  couriers,  and  was 
caught  almost  red-handed,  and  with  papers  on  him  com- 
promising enough  to  hang  a  dozen  spies.  Neverthe- 
less, we  gave  him  a  trial.  I  convened  a  drum-head 
court  martial  of  three  brigadiers  and  they  sentenced 
him  to  be  hanged  immediately.  The  wretch  was 


CONFEDERATE  STAFF  OFFICER        97 

mounted,  arms  tied,  on  a  horse,  with  the  noose  and 
limb  of  a  tree  connected.  He  finally  admitted  he  was  a 
spy  from  Loudoun  County,  Virginia,  but  to  the  last 
stuck  out  he  had  not  shot  the  cavalry  courier.  A  smart 
blow  with  the  flat  of  a  saber  started  the  horse  on  the 
jump  and  left  the  spy  breathless,  and  there  he  hung 
until  the  army,  continuing  its  march,  passed  almost 
under  the  tree  and  perhaps  took  the  lesson  to  heart. 

Jackson's  marches,  in  swiftness,  daring,  and  orig- 
inality of  execution,  were  almost  extraordinary.  At 
one  time  there  was  great  fear  for  his  safety,  widely 
separated  as  he  was  from  the  right  wing  under  Long- 
street.  General  Lee's  route  was  near  Longstreet's  and 
night  and  day  he  was  always  close  to  us.  Longstreet 
was  delayed  by  the  enemy  at  Thoroughfare  Gap.  This 
is  a  mountain  gorge,  not  long,  but  narrow,  rocky,  and 
precipitous.  It  was  capable  of  stubborn  defense.  Its 
echoes  were  wonderful  —  a  gun  fired  in  its  depths 
gave  forth  roars  fit  to  bring  down  the  skies.  Here 
Longstreet  had  to  stop  impatiently  until  he  could  work 
his  way  through.  He  knew  Jackson  was  hard  pressed 
on  the  other  side  and  praying  for  a  sight  of  him.  It 
took  a  little  time,  but  we  sent  a  flanking  force  over  the 
mountains  by  a  rocky  path  and  the  enemy  gave  way 
speedily  and  left  the  gap  early.  Pushing  through  we 
saw  the  dust  of  Jackson's  masses  miles  away  and  heard 
his  guns.  Forward  we  pressed  almost  at  a  run,  and  in 
time.  The  attack  on  Stonewall  ceased  as  soon  as 
Longstreet  came  on  the  scene. 

This  was  early  enough  in  the  day  to  permit  us  in  turn 
to  make  a  combined  attack.  The  enemy  was  disheart- 
ened, and  Jackson's  column,  although  fatigued  and  los- 
ing heavily,  was  triumphant  and  still  capable  of  great 
efforts.  Our  own  force  was  large,  comparatively 


98  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  A 

fresh,  and  eager  to  crush  John  Pope,  but  for  some  rea- 
son the  attack  was  not  made,  although  I  think  General 
Lee  preferred  it  to  waiting. 

The  great  battle  that  followed,  and  all  these  opera- 
tions covering  several  days,  were  called  the  Second 
Manassas.  Some  of  the  ground  was  identical  with  the 
first.  Most  of  it  lay  beautifully  for  good  tactical  oper- 
ations, and  as  the  country  was  quite  open  much  could 
be  observed  at  considerable  distances.  When  the 
enemy's  masses  began  again  pressing  Stonewall  on  the 
3Oth  of  August,  Longstreet  moved  quickly  up  to  sup- 
port. Their  dense  columns  had  been  left  exposed  to 
artillery  fire  from  our  position  and  Longstreet  instantly 
saw  it.  Planting  a  battery  in  the  road,  the  first  shots, 
together  with  Jackson's  incessant  fire,  began  to  tell. 

We  were  near  enough  to  see  some  wavering  in  the 
blue  masses,  then  halt,  and  then  a  flight  back  to  cover. 
But  it  was  all  up  with  John  Pope.  No  rest  was  given 
his  army.  Longstreet  started  every  man  of  us  to  his 
division  to  push  them  into  attack,  and  soon  everything 
was  hotly  engaged.  The  easy,  rounded  ridges  ran  at 
right  angles  to  the  turnpike,  and  over  these  infantry 
and  artillery  poured  in  pursuit.  The  artillery  would 
gallop  furiously  to  the  nearest  ridge,  limber  to  the  front, 
deliver  a  few  rounds  until  the  enemy  were  out  of  range, 
and  then  a  gallop  again  to  the  next  ridge.  And  thus  it 
went  on  until  black  darkness  stopped  operations  —  the 
enemy  defeated  at  all  points  and  hastening  back  to  the 
Potomac.  Many  prisoners,  guns,  colors,  small  arms, 
and  large  quantities  of  stores  and  equipments  fell  into 
our  hands. 

J.  E.  B.  Stuart  was  highly  tickled  at  his  capture  of 
Pope's  wagon  and  personal  effects,  including  a  very 
fine  uniform. 


99 

Losses  on  both  sides  were  heavy.  Alas!  the 
butcher's  bill  is  always  to  be  paid  after  these  grand 
operations,  and  at  Manassas  especially  there  were  some 
splendid  young  lives  laid  down  for  our  cause  and  our 
homes. 

Longstreet  was  seen  at  his  best  during  the  battle. 
His  consummate  ability  in  managing  troops  was  well 
displayed  that  day  and  his  large  bodies  of  men  were 
moved  with  great  skill  and  without  the  least  confusion. 

As  General  C.  M.  Wilcox  was  moving  forward  at 
the  head  of  his  brigade  in  the  open  field,  he  was  at- 
tracted by  the  waving  of  a  handkerchief  at  some  little 
distance.  He  found  time  to  go  to  the  spot  and  there 
mortally  wounded  was  a  Federal  general,  Wilcox's  old 
army  friend,  who  had  recognized  the  Confederate  as  he 
passed  and  wanted  to  say  farewell.  His  soul  soon  took 
flight  and  his  body  was  cared  for  by  his  old-time  com- 
rade —  the  name  is  forgotten. 

Wilcox  told  me  that  he  once  officiated  at  a  christ- 
ening with  D.  N.  Couch,  afterwards  a  Federal  major- 
general.  Wilcox's  baptismals  were  Cadmus  Marcellus, 
and  Couch's  Darius  Narcissus.  It  is  said  that  when 
these  sonorous  designations  reached  the  parson's  ear  he 
almost  dropped  the  baby  in  round-eyed  astonishment! 

N.  G.  Evans  ("Shank"  Evans)  had  two  brigades 
with  Longstreet  and  was  a  rather  marked  character. 
A  regular  soldier,  he  had  served  well  in  Mexico,  and  at 
Manassas,  on  July  21,  had  done  exceedingly  well  with 
a  small  command,  a  good  eye,  and  quick  decision.  It 
was  he,  too,  that  commanded  at  Ball's  Bluff  on  the 
upper  Potomac  when  Baker  attempted  to  take  it  with  a 
fine  regiment  and  lost  some  800  men.  Baker  was  Sen- 
ator from  Oregon  and  only  a  few  days  before  had  ad- 
dressed the  United  States  Senate  in  full  uniform  in 


loo  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  A 

farewell.  It  was  forever,  for  he  died  with  hundreds 
of  his  men  in  the  waters  of  the  Potomac.  Evans  was 
difficult  to  manage  and  we  found  him  so.  He  had  a 
Prussian  orderly,  with  a  wooden  vessel  holding  a  gallon 
of  whiskey  always  strapped  on  his  back,  and  there  was 
the  trouble.  At  the  little  artillery  fight  he  had  on  the 
Rappahannock,  G.  T.  Anderson  (Tige),  commanding 
one  of  the  Georgia  brigades,  was  ordered  by  Evans  to 
attack  a  powerful  battery  and  silence  it.  In  vain  did 
Anderson  explain  that  it  was  on  the  far  side  of  a  deep 
river  and  that  without  a  bridge  his  infantry  could  not 
get  to  it.  Evans  would  not  listen  to  reason  and  An- 
derson came  to  me.  Of  course  he  was  told  to  make  no 
such  attempt,  and  I  proceeded  to  hunt  up  Evans,  find- 
ing him  under  a  tree,  too  near  his  "  Barrelita,"  as  he 
called  his  whiskey  holder.  But  he  had  to  listen  and 
comply.  In  the  progress  of  the  campaign  after  the 
Manassas  battle  he  became  so  unruly  as  to  arrest  with- 
out reason  Hood,  one  of  his  brigadiers,  and  Longstreet 
had  to  get  him  out  of  the  way  in  some  manner.  He  j 
disappeared  afterwards  from  field  work  and  I  don't  / 
know  his  end.  He  had  been  a  very  brave,  experienced 
cavalry  officer.  Anderson's  indignation  at  the  impossi- 
bility of  the  order  to  take  the  battery  was  highly  amus- 
ing. 

In  the  early  part  of  the  march  against  Pope  we  made 
a  bivouac  near  where  some  Federal  cavalry  were  re- 
ported to  have  been  prowling.  The  enemy  had  no 
troops  near  by  to  disturb  us  except  this  body  of  horse. 
It  was  therefore  thought  prudent  to  post  a  regiment  at 
the  cross-road  which  would  warn  our  camps.  General 
Toombs  was  ordered  to  detail  one  and  I  saw  that  it  was 
posted. 

During  the  night  a  cavalry  picket  reported  that  the 


CONFEDERATE  STAFF  OFFICER      101 

regiment  had  been  withdrawn.  I  awoke  Longstreet  to 
ascertain  if  by  his  orders.  "  No,  but  place  immedi- 
ately in  arrest  the  officer  who  has  done  so."  It  proved 
to  be  Toombs.  He  was  a  great  lawyer  and  a  good 
politician,  but  in  the  wrong  place  when  posing  as  a  sol- 
dier. He  had  taken  a  notion  that  his  regiment  was 
not  really  needed  at  the  cross-road  and  the  men  would 
be  more  comfortable  with  the  others  in  bivouac. 

Toombs  was  therefore  put  in  arrest  and  the  march 
continued.  The  next  evening  on  halting  it  was  re- 
ported to  me  that  he  had  followed,  as  was  proper,  in 
rear  of  his  brigade,  but  had  worn  his  sword,  and  upon 
his  men  going  into  camp  had  made  them  a  violent 
speech.  I  felt  called  on  to  make  this  known  to  Gen- 
eral Longstreet,  whereupon  he  directed  me  to  order 
General  Toombs  back  to  Gordonsville  and  confine  him- 
self there;  also  to  prefer  charges  against  him  on  two 
grounds  —  withdrawing  the  regiment  from  picket  duty 
and  breaking  his  arrest.  This  was  done  and  Toombs 
went  back  to  Gordonsville,  not  many  miles  away, 
whence  he  wrote  a  short  note  asking  to  be  released  of 
the  charge  of  breaking  arrest,  saying  he  had  worn  his 
sword  only  for  convenience  and  there  was  nothing  im- 
proper in  his  speech  to  the  men.  Longstreet  always 
had  a  decided  liking  for  Toombs,  and  upon  seeing  this 
note  he  not  only  withdrew  that  charge,  but  the  other 
also  and  sent  him  back  to  duty.  Knowing  that  we 
should  soon  be  engaged  he  advised  me  to  be  quick  about 
it  if  I  wanted  the  Georgian  to  see  something  of  hot 
work. 

An  intelligent  courier  was  sent  to  Toombs  with  the 
latest  orders,  and  meantime  we  were  marching  forward. 
He  returned ;  General  Toombs  was  not  at  Gordonsville. 
I  might  well  have  left  the  matter  there,  but  it  seemed 


102      CONFEDERATE  STAFF  OFFICER 

to  me  that  one  of  our  foremost  Georgians  should  have 
a  chance  with  the  army  and  I  sent  a  second  man  after 
him;  this  time  he  was  found.  The  situation  was  ex- 
plained to  him  and  he  was  advised  to  lose  no  time  in 
joining  his  men  if  he  desired  to  be  with  them  in  the 
smoke  of  battle.  And  so  Toombs  came;  late,  but  just 
in  time  to  be  with  his  brigade  in  its  last  victorious 
charge  when  everything,  as  already  described,  was 
turned  loose. 

Toombs  stuck  to  the  army  through  Sharpsburg, 
where  he  did  good  service,  and  then  returned  to  more 
congenial  fields  —  politics  and  oratory.  In  after  years 
he  always  showed  me  much  kindness  and  appreciation 
for  the  trouble  I  had  taken  to  get  him  back  to  his  bri- 
gade for  fighting  at  the  Second  Manassas. 


CHAPTER  XI 

BATTLES  OF  SOUTH  MOUNTAIN  (BOONSBORO  GAP) 
AND  SHARPSBURG  (ANTIETAM),  SEPT. 

I4TH    AND    I7TH,    l862 

Accident  to  General  Lee  —  To  Longstreet  also  —  Fight  at  Chan- 
tilly  —  General  Kearny  killed  —  Cross  the  Potomac  —  Lee's 
confidential  order  found  by  McClellan  —  Straggling. 

When  we  got  back  to  Virginia  and  Toombs's  resig- 
nation had  gone  in,  Longstreet  sent  for  me  to  say  he 
had,  some  time  before,  about  August,  1862,  recom- 
mended me  for  promotion  to  brigadier-general.  That 
Toombs's  retirement  now  left  a  Georgia  brigade  open 
and  he  wanted  me  to  have  it  and  that  I  must  put  out 
for  Richmond  forthwith  and  try  to  work  it  through  by 
help  of  my  Congressman  and  other  strong  friends.  I 
lost  no  time  about  this  and  was  soon  on  the  ground. 
Hartridge,  our  M.  C,  did  all  he  could  in  my  behalf; 
but  there  was  no  possible  chance  while  the  brigade  had 
four  colonels,  well  known  representative  Georgia  men, 
ready  each  for  the  command.  It  was  given  to  Colonel, 
formerly  Judge,  Benning,  and  his  record  in  command 
of  it  was  excellent. 

The  day  after  great  Manassas,  General  Lee  suffered 
a  painful  accident.  It  had  rained  and  he  was  wear- 
ing a  rubber  poncho  and  over-alls,  his  body  and  legs 
being  thus  well  protected.  With  a  number  of  his  of- 
ficers he  was  dismounted  in  a  thick  piece  of  woods, 
making  some  disposition  for  following  the  enemy. 
His  horse,  a  gentle,  intelligent  animal,  was  at  the  Gen- 

103 


104  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  A 

eral's  shoulder,  reins  on  neck;  he  made  some  slight 
movement  as  if  to  start  away,  and  Lee  taking  a  step 
ahead  for  the  bridle  tripped  in  his  over-alls  and  fell 
forward,  not  prone,  but  catching  on  his  hands. 

He  was  instantly  on  his  feet,  erect,  but  his  hands 
were  bady  damaged ;  one  had  a  small  bone  broken  and 
the  other  was  nearly  as  bad  with  the  twist  and  strain. 
Both  were  put  into  splints,  but  were  painful  and  most 
uncomfortable.  For  some  time  the  saddle  had  to  be 
given  up  and  the  ambulance  called  into  use.  General 
Lee  made  the  campaign  on  wheels.  At  SharpsT^urg  he 
was  far  enough  cured  to  allow  him  to  ride  a  little. 
This  accident  caused  widespread  report  of  the  General 
having  been  wounded,  and  of  course  the  enemy's  papers 
gave  facts  in  detail  of  the  serious  character  of  the 
wound  and  how  it  was  received. 

Some  little  time  afterwards  Longstreet  also  got  him- 
self damaged.  A  boot  chafed  his  heel,  which  took  on 
an  ugly  look  and  refused  to  heal.  "  Peter  "  (this  was 
his  West  Point  sobriquet,  much  used  for  him  by  his 
army  friends  and  to  this  day  not  forgotten)  therefore 
was  obliged  to  don  a  slipper,  and  at  Sharpsburg  he  was 
in  no  good  humor  at  such  footwear  and  the  need  of 
occasionally  walking  in  it.  In  fact,  a  wobbly  carpet 
slipper  was  not  a  good-looking  thing  for  a  commander 
on  the  field. 

General  Lee  took  his  army  forward  to  the  Potomac. 
Only  a  detachment  of  the  enemy  was  encountered  by 
Jackson,  and  this  was  at  Chantilly,  where  toward  dark, 
and  in  a  furious  storm,  there  was  a  short  combat  in 
which  Major-General  Kearny  was  killed  and  left  in  our 
hands.  ' 

Kearny  had  been  a  conspicuous  young  officer  in  the 
Mexican  War,  where  he  lost  an  arm,  and  coming  of  a 


CONFEDERATE  STAFF  OFFICER      105 

wealthy  New  Jersey  family  had  resigned  from  the  army 
and  retired  to  private  life.  I  saw  his  body  next  morn- 
ing. It  was  given  up  to  the  enemy  at  their  request, 
and  his  horse  also,  I  think.  He  was  a  small,  dashing- 
looking  man,  possessed,  it  was  thought,  of  considerable 
military  ability. 

After  such  successes  there  was  a  fair  prospect  of 
driving  the  enemy  out  of  Washington  or  bringing  him 
to  terms.  General  Lee  moved  his  army  into  Mary- 
land, passing  most  of  the  troops  across  the  river  at 
White  Ford.  The  soldiers  crossed  with  joyful  excite- 
ment, singing  "  My  Maryland,"  and  the  whole  round 
of  their  musical  stock,  with  bands  playing  and  all  cheer- 
ing as  well-known  officers  came  in  sight.  Indeed  there 
was  some  reason  for  elation  and  hope.  The  enemy  had 
suffered  a  serious  defeat  and  was  driven  into  his  capi- 
tal, his  numbers  again  very  great,  but  of  demoralized 
and  raw-recruited  men.  On  the  other  hand,  Lee  also 
had  a  strong  army  ( for  Confederate  numbers  —  we 
had  been  accustomed  to  be  outnumbered).  The  men 
were  triumphantly  rejoicing  and  confident,  and  as  they 
believed  were  moving  into  the  friendly  fields  of  a  sister 
State,  whose  men  would  surely  rise  and  join  us;  and 
more  than  all,  they  were  commanded  by  the  first  Gen- 
eral of  the  day. 

It  was  early  September  and  delightful  marching  over 
Maryland's  good  roads  and  through  her  fields  of  plenty. 
We  had  not  yet  been  pushed  for  food,  the  transport  so 
far  having  kept  us  supplied.  General  Lee  made  a  short 
halt  at  Frederick  City,  where  we  took  a  rest  and  got 
loose  ends  of  the  army  together ;  and  from  here  began 
the  movement  that  after  two  bloody  battles  was  to  send 
us  disappointed  back  to  the  Virginia  side  of  the  Poto- 
mac. 


io6  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  A 

General  Lee  there  issued  his  famous  confidential  gen- 
eral order  on  which  the  army  moved.  It  provided  in 
detail  for  the  march  of  his  troops  and  his  objective 
points.  It  was  so  full  that  when  a  copy  came  in  my 
possession  I  wondered  what  could  be  done  with  it  in 
event  of  my  falling  into  the  enemy's  hands. 

By  it  Jackson  was  to  move  to  Harper's  Ferry  and 
capture  its  large  garrison  —  it  was  a  menace  to  Lee's 
rear.  McLaws  was  to  occupy  Maryland  Heights,  and 
J.  G.  Walker,  Loudoun  Heights,  in  co-operation  with 
Jackson.  Troops  were  also  sent  to  Crampton's  Gap. 

D.  H.  Hill  was  to  occupy  South  Mountain,  or  Boons- 
boro  Gap,  as  it  was  variously  called.  Longstreet's 
strong  column  was  to  be  in  the  vicinity  of  Hagerstown, 
twelve  miles  from  D.  H.  Hill's  position.  Proper  direc- 
tions were  provided  for  Stuart's  large  cavalry  force. 

The  army  moved  from  Frederick  under  the  confiden- 
tial order.  All  should  have  gone  well.  The  pro- 
gramme would  have  been  carried  out,  the  severed  army 
reunited,  with  Harper's  Ferry  captured  at  it  was,  and 
once  in  front  of  the  already  half-beaten  McClellan 
(who  had  succeeded  Pope  in  command  of  the  Army  of 
the  Potomac),  what  great  victory  would  surely  have 
awaited  us!  But  fate  or  an  unlucky  chance  decided 
otherwise.  A  copy  of  General  Lee's  confidential  order 
was  handed  to  McClellan  when  he  reached  Frederick. 
He  says  in  his  official  report  that  it  was  picked  up  by 
one  of  his  men  on  our  late  camping  ground. 

Had  Lee  whispered  into  the  Federal  General's  ear 
his  inmost  plans  the  latter  could  have  asked  for  nothing 
more  than  the  information  brought  him  on  that  fatal 
paper. 

The  effect  on  McClellan  was  immediate.     His  march, 


CONFEDERATE  STAFF  OFFICER      107 

up  to  then,  had  been  cautious  and  timid,  not  more  than 
eight  or  nine  miles  a  day.  When  the  order  came  to 
him  he  knew  all  about  us.  He  knew  that  D.  H.  Hill's 
five  brigades  at  Boonsboro  would  be  nearly  all  that  lay 
in  his  path  to  cross  the  mountain,  and  he  began  footing 
it  with  great  speed.  His  march  was  rapid,  and  for 
McClellan  confident.  He  actually  struck  D.  H.  Hill  on 
September  14,  on  the  mountain,  with  an  overwhelming 
force.  Hill  defended  himself  valiantly,  Dray  ton's  and 
Anderson's  brigades  reinforcing  him. 

Hearing  his  guns  near  Hagerstown,  Longstreet's 
quick  military  instinct  told  him  what  was  happening. 
We  instantly  broke  camp  and  raced  out  for  Hill's  re- 
lief. The  distance  was  covered  in  extraordinary  time 
and  we  happily  got  to  Hill  just  as  he  was  being  driven 
from  the  crest  of  the  mountain,  and  in  time  to  save 
him.  Darkness  coming  on,  he  was  able  to  assemble 
his  shattered  battalions  below,  where  with  our  force  a 
front  was  shown  that  McClellan  hesitated  on  immedi- 
ately attacking.  At  sun  up  we  prepared  to  move  and 
were  soon  on  the  march  to  Antietam  Creek,  behind 
which  part  of  the  army  took  position  on  the  I5th  and 
i6th. 

But  I  must  go  back  to  Frederick  City,  asking  how  a 
document  so  vitally  important  as  General  Lee's  order 
could  have  suffered  loss.  It  has  often  been  discussed 
in  special  papers,  in  magazine  articles,  and  in  letters. 
McClellan  says  it  was  addressed  to  Major-General  D. 
H.  Hill.  There  is  no  disputing  this  because  the  docu- 
ment is  on  file  for  evidence.  General  Hill  and  his 
adjutant-general,  Col.  Archer  Anderson,  both  declare 
it  impossible  to  have  been  Hill's  copy.  They  are  to  be 
implicitly  believed.  In  addition,  Colonel  Anderson  is 


io8  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  A 

able  to  produce  a  copy  addressed  to  his  chief.1  Thus 
we  find  ourselves  in  a  dilemma. 

The  explanation  suggested  is  that  perhaps  two  copies 
were  sent  Hill.  Although  now  an  independent  divi- 
sion, Jackson  considered  Hill  under  his  command  and 
sent  him  a  copy  of  the  order.  One  copy  certainly 
reached  him  direct  from  General  Lee.  Jackson  and 
Hill,  although  connected  by  marriage,  had  it  is  said  no 
great  personal  liking  for  each  other,  and  I  can  imagine 
the  cross  and  dyspeptic  Hill,  with  the  order  from  Lee 
in  his  pocket,  receiving  another  copy  from  Jackson 
with  careless  irritation.  If  this  theory  does  not  work 
out,  we  seem  to  be  quite  baffled  in  finding  a  solution. 

We  had  a  bad  night  on  the  mountain,  extracting  D. 
H.  Hill.  He  had  made  a  magnificent  defense,  but  was 
terribly  mauled  and  broken  up. 

Drayton's  brigade  had  been  dispersed.  There  was 
great  straggling  to  the  rear  by  some  of  the  men  and  our 
staff  had  to  make  sharp  play  with  the  flats  of  our 
swords  on  the  backs  of  these  fellows.  It  tired  and  dis- 
gusted me.  The  mountain  roads  were  filled  with 
broken  regiments  and  companies  and  it  was  very  late 
before  they  got  to  the  foot  of  the  mountain  and  in  some 
sort  of  order.  The  material  of  our  army  was  such 
that  it  did  not  take  long  for  the  men  to  shape  up  after 
disaster.  It  was  near  daylight  before  I  got  to  Long- 
street's  bivouac,  made  a  brief  report  of  things,  and 
threw  myself  on  some  fence  rails  in  the  bad  weather 
for  a  chance  to  sleep.  Not  for  long,  however.  All 
hands  were  soon  afoot  preparing  for  the  march.  Dur- 
ing the  day  I  came  up  with  my  old  friend  and  school- 
mate "  Sandy  "  Duncan,  of  the  Hussars.  He  was  a 
comical  object,  but  doing  good  service  mounted  on  a 
1  Colonel  Anderson  was  not  there,  being  at  home  wounded. 


CONFEDERATE  STAFF  OFFICER      109 

little  beast,  almost  skin  and  bones,  with  scarcely  any 
hair.  The  animal  looked  badly  scalded.  He  bore 
Duncan  and  his  arms  however,  the  trooper  bearded  and 
with  as  odd  an  appearance  as  his  mount.  He  was  gath- 
ering stragglers  and  pushing  them  forward  with  hard 
words  and  sometimes  blows.  We  had  never  a  cam- 
paign when  there  was  so  much  straggling.  Duncan 
was  an  excellent  cavalry  soldier  and  devoted  to  his 
troop.  In  full  health  to-day  at  Savannah,  he  is  con- 
sidered justly  good  authority  on  all  things  Confederate. 


CHAPTER  XII 
BATTLE  OF  SHARPSBURG,  CONTINUED 

Marching  through  Frederick  —  Barbara  Fritchie  and  Stonewall 
Jackson  —  Commissariat  broken  down  —  Green  corn  for  ra- 
tions —  Stampede  of  horses  of  a  cavalry  regiment  —  D.  H. 
Hill's  horse  shot  —  Longstreet's  staff  served  guns  of  Wash- 
ington Artillery  —  Cannoneers  killed  —  Colonel  John  R. 
Cooke's  gallant  fight  —  Am  wounded  and  carried  off  the 
field. 

When  the  army  marched  through  Frederick  City  it 
was  fine  weather,  and  the  poet  Whittier  has  told  of 
Barbara  Frietchie  and  Stonewall  Jackson  —  a  stirring 
poem  in  winning  lines,  but  quite  without  fact  at  bottom. 
But  that  matters  not  in  the  least.  The  lines  are  good 
and  we  can  well  afford  to  throw  in  with  all  the  hard 
words  and  abuse  of  those  days,  the  poet's  ideas  about 
our  Stonewall. 

The  country  through  which  we  marched  was  beauti- 
ful, rich,  and  fertile,  but  we  were  constantly  hungry. 
There  were  two  lines  of  Whittier's  unquestionably  true : 

"  Fair  as  a  garden  of  the  Lord, 
To  the  eyes  of  the  famished  rebel  horde." 

In  all  parts  of  the  army  straggling  was  principally 
caused  by  want  of  food.  The  commissariat  had  about 
broken  down  and  the  troops  had  recourse  to  anything. 

The  fields  were  full  of  ripened  corn,  of  which  too 
much  was  eaten.  Parched  and  salted  it  would  help  a 
little,  but  eaten  as  it  was,  bad  attacks  of  diarrhoea  fol- 
lowed and  such  sickness  became  serious. 

no 


CONFEDERATE  STAFF  OFFICER      in 

On  the  night  before  the  battle  we  were  getting  some 
sleep  under  thick  trees  when  a  stampede  of  horses 
nearly  trampled  us.  It  was  a  very  surprising  thing 
that  happened  to  the  Jeff  Davis  Legion.  The  regiment 
was  well  lined  and  picketed  in  front,  part  of  the  officers 
and  men  asleep,  guards  and  pickets  on  good  watch,  and 
everything  deadly  quiet  and  still,  the  night  went  on. 

Suddenly  something  seemed  to  pass  through  the  ani- 
mals like  a  quiver  of  motion,  a  faint  sound  as  of  a  sign, 
and  then  the  wildest  scene  ensued.  The  horses  for  no 
reason  that  could  be  found  had  become  stampeded,  in 
the  greatest  panic  and  excitement.  They  broke  away 
from  their  picket  ropes,  and  droves  of  different  sizes, 
some  few,  some  many,  were  thundering  along  over  the 
country  and  about  the  army  in  wild  confusion.  For- 
tunately, they  drew  to  our  rear,  and  the  troopers  were 
all  night  and  part  of  the  next  day  recovering  them. 
Duncan  has  well  described  to  me  this  extraordinary 
stampede,  the  like  of  which  did  not  occur  during  the 
four  years'  war. 

The  morning  of  September  17  opened  with  battle  be- 
fore us,  presaged  by  the  booming  of  cannon  already 
beginning  their  noisy  work. 

Longstreet  held  the  right  center,  the  other  wing  be- 
ing trusted  to  Jackson,  Hood,  Richard  H.  Anderson, 
McLaws,  and  other  divisions.  The  fall  of  Harper's 
Ferry  had  released  the  attacking  forces  and  enabled 
Jackson  and  part  of  his  command  to  join  Lee,  but  only 
after  great  exhaustion  and  fatal  straggling.  The 
enemy  called  this  battle  Antietam,  from  the  little  stream 
that  traverses  the  field.  We  gave  it  the  name  of 
Sharpsburg,  the  village  that  nestled  in  the  hills  by  the 
turnpike  some  little  distance  back  of  Antietam.  It 
was  a  dreadful  day  of  fighting.  Beginning  early,  we 


112  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  A 

were  at  it  until  nightfall.  Outnumbered  three  to  one, 
it  seemed  that  at  almost  any  time  a  strong  effort  by 
McClellan  would  drive  us  back,  but  that  effort  was  not 
made.  A  third  of  his  fine  army  did  not  fire  a  rifle. 

In  the  early  afternoon  Lee,  Longstreet,  and  D.  H. 
Hill  ascended  a  little  acclivity  near  the  turnpike  to  make 
some  observations.  All  others  —  staff  and  orderlies  — 
were  kept  back  under  the  brow  of  the  hill  to  avoid 
drawing  fire  on  the  three  generals.  In  truth,  they  did 
look  conspicuous  on  the  crest,  silhouetted  against  the 
bright  skies,  and  the  shot  of  course  came,  a  little  wide, 
but  the  second  was  from  a  good  gunner.  This  shot 
struck  the  front  legs  of  Hill's  horse,  cutting  them  sharp 
off  at  the  knees.  The  poor  beast  did  not  fall  immedi- 
ately, and  made  no  sound,  but  put  his  nose  into  the 
grass,  nibbling  at  it  seemingly. 

The  small  general  in  a  high-cantled  saddle  could  not 
get  his  leg  over  in  the  position  of  the  horse  until  Long- 
street  helped  him  down.  There  is  occasional  talk  of 
groans  and  shrieks  of  horses  when  wounded.  I  have 
seen  many  badly  hurt,  but  cannot  recall  an  instance  in 
which  the  animal  made  any  noise.  This  "  gunning  " 
has  recently  been  associated  with  another  incident  on 
the  field,  with  which  it  has  really  no  connection.  It 
was  rather  later  in  the  day  that  we  came  on  two  of 
Miller's  Washington  Artillery  guns  that  had  been  do- 
ing splendid  work,  but  were  now  silent. 

The  gunners  had  fallen  by  their  places,  which  were 
temporarily  without  cannoneers.  Longstreet  was  with 
us.  Fairfax,  Goree,  Manning,  Walton,  myself,  and 
perhaps  some  others  took  our  horses'  bridles  as  we 
leaped  from  them  to  the  guns.  The  position  was  most 
important  and  it  would  never  do  for  those  "  barkers  " 
to  be  dumb,  even  for  a  minute;  so  at  it  we  went,  the 


CONFEDERATE  STAFF  OFFICER      113 

improvised  gunners,  and  were  afterwards  cheered  by 
being  told  we  did  it  well  and  could  always  get  a  gun- 
ner's berth  when  we  might  want  it.  I  had  the  rammer, 
No.  i,  I  think  it  is  in  the  drill.  Our  fire  was  really 
strong  and  effective,  until  some  reliefs  from  the  Wash- 
ington Artillery  came  up  "  ventre  a  terre,"  and  with 
hearty  shouts  took  their  guns  in  hand.  The  enemy 
opened  a  severe  fire  on  us,  but  fortunately  none  of  our 
party  was  hurt.  We  mounted  again  with  cheerful 
grins  at  our  sudden  adventure,  and  Longstreet,  much 
pleased,  turned  his  attention  to  other  imperiled  points. 

Now,  some  fellow  writing  recently  says  it  was  Mc- 
Clellan's  own  hands  that  fired  at  Hill's  horse  in  the 
morning;  and  that,  in  revenge,  Longstreet  seeing  his 
position  in  the  afternoon,  guessed  it  must  be  McClellan 
and  his  staff  and  dispersed  them  with  his  own  hands  on 
the  guns.  An  awful  lot  of  lies  circulate  nowadays 
about  the  Civil  War,  and  it  is  so  long  ago  there  is 
hardly  anybody  to  contradict  them. 

Longstreet,  whose  eyes  were  everywhere,  had  noticed 
a  regiment  well  advanced  that  had  been  fighting  steadily 
for  hours.  It  had  gathered  a  few  rails  and  stones  for 
a  chance  protection  to  its  brave  fellows,  all  the  time 
keeping  up  a  good  steady  fire  on  the  force  in  front  of 
them,  whose  ranks  looked  so  thick  as  to  make  one  won- 
der they  did  not  walk  over  our  poor  little  regiment. 
Longstreet  never  failed  to  encourage  good  work;  he 
praised  freely  and  liberally  where  he  thought  it  due, 
constantly  recommending  meritorious  young  officers  for 
promotion.  There  was  no  illiberality  about  him,  and 
the  officers  knew  it  and  tried  for  his  notice.  "  Major 
Sorrel,"  he  said,  "  go  down  to  that  regiment  with  my 
compliments  to  the  colonel.  Say  he  has  fought  splen- 
didly and  must  keep  it  up.  We  are  hard  pressed  and  if 


U4      CONFEDERATE  STAFF  OFFICER 

he  loses  his  position  there  is  nothing  left  behind  him; 
his  men  have  made  noble  sacrifices,  but  are  to  do  still 
more." 

It  was  Col.  John  R.  Cooke,  commanding  a  North 
Carolina  regiment,  that  received  this  message.  There 
were  many  dead  along  his  lines  and  some  severely 
wounded  who  could  not  be  got  away.  My  horse  was 
wounded  on  the  way  to  him,  and  the  enemy's  rifle  fir- 
ing was  incessant,  while  from  the  saddle  Longstreet's 
praises  and  encouragement  were  given  this  brave  of- 
ficer. 

Profanity  is  justly  considered  objectionable.  I  do 
not  approve  of  it,  but  there  are  times  when  it  may  be 
overlooked,  and  never  did  such  words  sound  so  sweet 
as  when  I  looked  into  Cooke's  eyes  and  heard  him: 
"  Major,  thank  General  Longstreet  for  his  good  words, 

but  say,  by almighty,  he  needn't  doubt  me !  We 

will  stay  here,  by  J.  C.,  if  we  must  all  go  to  hell  to- 
gether! That thick  line  of  the  enemy  has  been 

fighting  all  day,  but  my  regiment  is  still  ready  to  lick 

this  whole outfit.  Start  away,  Major,  quick,  or 

you'll  be  getting  hurt  too,  exposed  as  you  are  on  that 
horse!"  This  is  only  a  faint  reproduction  of  the 
Colonel's  gift  of  language,  but  it  left  me  with  no  doubt 
that  the  position  would  stand  until  that  gallant  heart 
gave  the  word  to  leave  it.  He  stuck  there  until  or- 
dered off  at  night.  It  was  some  time  before  I  was  able 
to  send  a  report  to  Longstreet,  the  hour  being  about  5 
p.  m.,  but  he  had  Cooke  promoted  immediately.  I  had 
scarcely  drawn  my  hand  from  Cooke's  when  a  shell 
burst  over  us  and  a  fragment  struck  me  senseless  from 
my  horse. 


CHAPTER  XIII 
BATTLE  OF  SHARPSBURG,  CONCLUDED 

Toombs's  Georgia  Brigade  —  Longstreet  on  the  field  —  Lee's  war 
horse  —  McClellan  superseded  by  Burnside  —  A  horse  trade 
—  Richard  H.  Anderson's  division  —  A  lost  opportunity  — 
Walton  and  myself  find  quarters  at  Shepherdstown  among 
wounded  —  Driven  away  by  enemy's  shells. 

Toombs's  brigade  of  Georgians  had  fought  well  at 
the  bridge  on  the  right.  It  was  contested  all  day  and 
was  the  scene  of  some  bloody  encounters.  Some 
fresher  men  under  A.  P.  Hill  at  last  came  up  late,  al- 
most dark,  and  a  general  advance  on  the  enemy's  lines 
persuaded  the  timorous  McClellan  that  we  were  not 
done  fighting,  and  he  ceased  his  operations.  Lee  was 
left,  after  the  long  day's  work,  with  thin  ranks  holding 
the  ground  he  stood  on  in  the  morning,  and  nothing  lost 
by  us  in  guns,  colors,  or  prisoners.  The  casualties, 
however,  were  very  heavy,  our  list  of  wounded  and 
killed  being  awful.  Here  fell  my  dear  personal  friends 
of  school  days,  Mclntosh  and  Parkman.  I  had  lost 
several  in  the  battles  preceding  and  my  heart  was  heavy. 

Longstreet' s  conduct  on  this  great  day  of  battle  was 
magnificent.  He  seemed  everywhere  along  his  ex- 
tended lines,  and  his  tenacity  and  deep-set  resolution, 
his  inmost  courage,  which  appeared  to  swell  with  the 
growing  peril  to  the  army,  undoubtedly  stimulated  the 
troops  to  greater  action,  and  held  them  in  place  despite 
all  weakness.  My  staff  comrades  described  to  me  later 
his  appearance  and  reception  by  Lee  when  they  met  at 

"5 


n6  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  A 

night  after  firing  ceased.  Longstreet,  big,  heavy,  and 
red,  grimly  stern  after  this  long  day's  work,  that  called 
for  all  we  could  stomach,  rolled  in  on  his  clumsy  carpet 
slippers.  Lee  immediately  welcomed  him  with  uncon- 
cealed joy.  "  Here  comes  my  war  horse  just  from  the 
field  he  has  done  so  much  to  save !  "  his  arm  affection- 
ately around  "  Peter's  "  shoulder.  The  latter  should 
surely  have  been  proud  and  well  satisfied.  Lee  held 
his  ground  that  night  and  all  the  next  day  (the  i8th), 
caring  for  his  wounded  and  burying  his  dead.  On  the 
night  of  the  i8th  he  quietly  moved  out  and  successfully 
passed  the  Potomac  to  Virginia  ground  without  loss. 
That  McClellan  with  his  great  army,  a  third  of  which 
had  taken  no  part  in  the  two  battles,  permitted  this  es- 
cape is  unaccountable.  In  olden  times  generals  lost 
their  heads  for  such  stupidities.  "  Little  Mac  "  lost 
his  place  instead,  being  soon  superseded  by  Burnside. 

I  was  never  good  at  a  horse  trade,  and  here  is  a  story 
of  one.  I  had  a  nice  little  mare  of  good  paces,  but  she 
was  undersized  for  my  long  legs.  Walton,  my  staff 
comrade,  had  a  big,  fine  bay,  well  gaited  and  apparently 
all  that  I  could  wish.  Walton,  being  a  small  man,  liked 
the  mare,  and  was  ready  to  trade;  but  just  before  get- 
ting to  Boonsboro,  the  big  bay,  "  Mott "  (he  had  been 
brought  from  Mississippi  by  that  Colonel  Mott  who 
was  killed  at  Williamsburg,  and  we  named  him 
"  Mott  "),  had  broken  loose  and  was  astray  somewhere, 
Walton  being  unable  to  find  him.  Having  some 
mounted  men  I  could  use  and  knowing  the  cavalry  of- 
ficers near  by,  I  believed  he  could  be  found,  so  taking 
the  chances  I  made  the  trade  by  paying  Walton  $275  to 
boot,  and  this  too  in  '62,  when  Confederate  money  was 
not  so  very  bad.  That  much  cash  could  then  buy  con- 
siderable stuff.  Longstreet  was  an  excellent  judge  of 


CONFEDERATE  STAFF  OFFICER      117 

horseflesh  and  to  him  I  gave  the  details  of  my  trade. 
In  answer  I  got  a  little  stare  and  smile  as  he  said, 
"  Why,  Major,  I  would  not  give  $275  for  the  horse  tied 
to  a  corn  crib;  no  quartermaster  in  this  army  can  fur- 
nish forage  enough  for  that  beast !  "  This  was  sooth- 
ing and  encouraging  to  be  sure,  and  in  the  mean  time 
bay  "  Mott "  refused  to  be  found.  Boonsboro  and 
Sharpsburg  were  fought,  the  army  back  in  Virginia, 
and  I  on  my  way  back,  when  at  last  came  my  cavalry- 
men, bay  ••"  Mott "  in  hand,  and  in  a  fortnight  or  so  I 
was  on  him,  a  powerful,  well-paced  animal ;  but  Long- 
street  was  right,  he  could  never  get  enough  to  eat,  and 
after  some  time  his  ribs  and  bones  were  disagreeably  in 
evidence,  and  the  beast  was  turned  over  to  a  quarter- 
master to  do  with  as  he  would.  He  had  pickings  in  the 
corral  and  was  probably  hitched  to  a  hay  wagon. 

When  struck  down  by  that  bursting  shell,  Colonel 
Cooke  had  me  immediately  carried  off  on  a  stretcher  to 
a  less  exposed  place,  and  on  regaining  consciousness 
good  old  Fairfax  was  pouring  whiskey  down  my  throat. 
We  had  been  severed  by  one  of  those  unnecessary  camp 
differences  and  were  not  on  good  terms.  Needless  to 
say  all  that  was  now  forgotten  and  we  were  comrades 
once  more.  He  managed  to  get  an  ambulance  and  sent 
me  off  to  the  army  field-infirmary.  There  was  another 
officer  stretched  by  me  in  the  ambulance,  very  bloody 
and  very  terribly  wounded.  I  did  not  think  I  was  hurt 
badly,  but  seemed  to  have  no  motion  or  feeling  about 
the  legs.  We  were  soon  at  the  surgeon's  camp,  Dr. 
Guild  medical  director  in  charge.  I  knew  him  well,  a 
cheerful  soul.  "  What,  you  too !  "  he  cried.  "  Now, 
turn  over."  And  he  began  pinching  my  legs  unmer- 
cifully. I  kicked  and  cried  out  loudly,  and  he  laughed 
and  said :  "  O,  you  are  quite  right,  I  feared  for  your 


n8  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  A 

back.  Now  away  to  the  rear  across  the  river;  you  will 
be  on  duty  again  in  a  fortnight."  The  hurt  was  a  vio- 
lent contusion  below  the  right  shoulder  and  made  the 
whole  side  of  the  body  black  and  blue  with  extravasated 
blood.  Off  we  started  and  came  up  with  my  staff  com- 
rade, Walton,  slowly  trotting  to  the  rear  with  a  bullet 
in  his  shoulder.  He  took  charge  of  things  energetic- 
ally, managed  by  threats  and  bullying  to  get  a  boat, 
and  had  us  ferried  across  the  river  at  Shepherdstown. 
There  Walton  got  some  men  to  carry  me,  hunting  a 
resting  place ;  he  tried  everywhere,  his  wound  paining 
him  all  the  time.  The  little  town  was  full  of  wounded 
and  it  looked  as  if  we  should  have  to  He  out  in  the 
street,  but  some  gentle  hearts  were  melted.  At  the 
house  of  the  Hamtrammocks,  already  crowded  with 
wounded,  the  ladies  gave  up  their  last  room  and  put  us 
in  it,  fed  and  cheered  us,  providing  that  sweet  sympathy 
and  goodness  that  was  ever  present  among  the  noble 
women  of  battle-torn  Virginia. 

The  Hamtrammock  family  was  unknown  to  me,  but 
stood  very  well  in  the  village  and  all  through  the  Val- 
ley. It  was  said  that  their  father,  long  dead,  had  com- 
manded a  Virginia  regiment  in  the  Mexican  War. 
The  only  members  of  the  family  we  saw  were  the  two 
pleasant  girls,  Elsie  and  Florence,  and  an  aunt,  Miss 
Sheperd.  That  evening  the  doctor  relieved  Walton  of 
acute  suffering  by  cutting  out  the  bullet,  which  had 
buried  itself  in  the  muscles  of  the  shoulder,  and  dressed 
my  battered  back.  So  we  awoke  next  morning  re- 
freshed and  easier,  charmed  with  our  luck  in  such  good 
quarters.  We  were  soon  quite  ready  to  be  entertained 
by  the  young  ladies,  and  they  were  nothing  loth  after 
the  nurses  had  made  us  presentable.  There  was  a 
Georgian  in  the  house,  Captain  D'Antignac,  badly 


CONFEDERATE  STAFF  OFFICER      119 

wounded  in  the  head,  and  in  charge  of  Miss  Sheperd. 
She  would  sometimes  rush  into  our  room,  laughing  im- 
moderately; the  poor  fellow  was  out  of  his  head  and 
talking  all  sorts  of  nonsense.  Our  hostesses  were  very 
gracious,  gay,  happy,  well  educated  girls;  they  played 
and  sang  prettily,  and  were  such  Confederates!  We 
had  much  curiosity  to  know  how  they  had  fared  during 
the  night,  since  they  had  been  robbed  of  their  rooms;  it 
finally  came  out  that  they  had  shared  the  bathroom  be- 
tween them.  But  this  elysium  could  not  last  long,  for 
next  day  the  enemy  planted  some  guns  on  the  river 
bank  and  began  shelling  everything.  The  wounded 
were  in  great  peril  and  the  surgeons  hurried  them  to 
the  rear.  An  ambulance  was  sent  at  once  for  us,  and 
with  grateful  farewells  to  our  friends,  we  were  taken 
away  to  a  little  old  farmhouse  fifteen  miles  distant, 
behind  Lee's  army. 


CHAPTER  XIV 
OUR  PERSONNEL  —  VISITORS 

On  duty  again,  recovered  —  Army  refreshed  and  in  good  condi- 
tion —  Reorganization  —  First  and  Second  Army  Corps, 
Longstreet  and  Stonewall  commanding  —  Divisions  compos- 
ing them  —  Cavalry  under  Stuart  —  Visitors  to  our  camp  in 
Valley  —  Three  Englishmen,  Wolseley,  Lawley,  and  Vizitelly. 

Within  the  fortnight  I  was  returned  to  duty,  rather 
stiff  but  quite  fit,  and  pleased  with  the  hearty  welcome 
of  my  brother  officers.  Walton's  wound  proved  severe 
and  he  was  sent  to  a  hospital  at  Richmond.  The  army 
had  picked  up  wonderfully,  stragglers  were  back  in 
ranks,  the  lightly  wounded  were  again  ready  with  their 
rifles,  rations  were  abundant ;  some  clothing  and  shoes 
had  come,  for  a  small  part  of  it,  and  we  were  just  eager 
for  Burnside  or  any  other  fellow.  Our  General,  like 
his  army,  was  high  in  spirit  and  controlling  absolutely 
its  destiny.  Its  devotion  for  Lee  and  unfaltering  con- 
fidence in  him  had  never  been  surpassed.  It  was  now 
that  he  found  it  necessary  to  reorganize  its  various 
commands.  They  were  all  comfortably  camped  in  the 
Valley,  except  a  small  detachment  sent  to  the  vicinity 
of  Fredericksburg,  and  covered  a  good  deal  of  ground. 
The  enemy  was  silent  and  showed  no  sign  of  move- 
ment, but  we  could  guess  where  he  was  likely  to  strike 
next.  Somewhere  about  Spottsylvania  or  Fredericks- 
burg,  Lee  divided  his  army  into  two  great  infantry 
corps  —  the  First  Army  Corps  under  Lieut-Gen. 
James  Longstreet;  the  Second  Army  Corps  under 

130 


CONFEDERATE  STAFF  OFFICER      121 

Lieut-Gen.  T.  J.  Jackson.  The  First  had  five  divisions 
under  Pickett,  McLaws,  Hood,  Richard  Anderson, 
and  J.  G.  Walker ;  all  had  from  four  to  five  brigades ; 
except  Walker's,  only  two,  but  it  was  known  that  his 
command  was  to  be  but  temporarily  with  the  Virginia 
army.  Jackson's  Second  Army  Corps  had  also  four 
divisions  under  A.  P.  Hill,  R.  S.  Ewell,  D.  H.  Hill, 
and  Jackson's  old  division  under  Taliaferro. 

The  strength  of  the  two  great  bodies  was  thus  about 
equal.  To  each  division  there  was  a  battalion  of  artil- 
lery of  four  batteries,  and  to  each  corps  a  reserve  bat- 
talion of  six  batteries.  Longstreet  had  two  of  them, 
the  Washingtons,  ,and  Alexander's  battalion. 

There  was  also  a  strong  body  of  reserve  artillery  to 
the  army  under  command  (and  indeed  he  claimed  some 
authority  over  the  rest)  of  Brig.-Gen.  W.  N.  Pendle- 
ton.  This  •officer  had  graduated  from  West  Point,  had 
changed  his  uniform  to  the  cassock  and  was  rector  of 
an  Episcopal  church  in  Western  Virginia.  He  was  an 
especial  friend  of  General  Lee,  and  leaving  his  pulpit 
brought  a  good  battery  to  Jackson's  command.  A 
well-meaning  man,  without  qualities  for  the  high  post 
he  claimed  —  Chief  of  Artillery  of  the  Army. 

The  cavalry  under  Stuart  completed  the  good  organ- 
ization of  that  wonderful  army.  An  excellent  body  of 
horse  it  was,  in  fit  hands,  and  its  commander,  true  body 
and  soul  to  Lee,  was  already  a  great  cavalry  leader. 
It  was  not,  however,  until  next  year  that  he  rose  with 
it  to  its  high-water  mark  of  strength,  efficiency,  and 
renown. 

While  camped  there  in  the  Valley  we  had  all  at  once 
three  interesting  visitors,  Col.  Garnet  Wolseley,  of  the 
British  Army;  Hon.  Francis  Lawley,  correspondent  at 
the  South  for  The  London  Times,  and  Frank  Vizitelly, 


122  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  A 

Southern  correspondent  and  artist  for  The  London 
Illustrated  News.  Wolseley  was  on  duty  in  Canada 
and  had  just  slipped  across  the  border  and  the  army 
lines  to  have  a  look  at  the  Confederate  forces.  He  was 
a  small,  spare  man,  modest  and  soldierly.  It  was  from 
Lawley  that  we  learned  more  about  him,  and  that  he 
had  distinguished  himself  while  a  subaltern  in  the 
Crimea  and  was  considered  a  rising  officer.  It  fell  to 
me  to  make  better  acquaintance  with  Wolseley  and  we 
have  kept  up  some  communication  since.  It  has,  there- 
fore, been  good  to  follow  his  "  steps  "  and  note  the 
more  than  fulfillment  of  the  favorable  expectations  of 
him.  Commander  of  the  Red  River  Expedition ;  gen- 
eral in  charge  of  the  Ashantee  War;  severe,  successful 
service  in  India;  command  in  Egypt  and  defeat  of 
Arabi  at  Tel-el-Kebir ;  operations  in  the  Soudan  — 
these  have  been  some  of  his  various  services  up  to  five 
years  ago,  when  he  was  made  commander-in-chief  of 
the  forces,  his  tour  of  duty  having  just  ended.  We 
had  a  review  of  one  of  our  divisions,  gave  him  a  good 
mount,  and  he  rode  well  with  Longstreet,  admiring 
with  an  experienced  eye  the  hardy  material  of  our  sol- 
diers. In  a  day  or  two  he  returned  to  Canada.  He 
has  attained  the  rank  of  Field  Marshal,  and  is  Vis- 
count Wolseley  in  the  Peerage  of  England,  with  many 
high  orders  of  merit. 

This  distinguished  officer  has  written  well  and  often 
of  his  Confederate  observations.  He  places  Lee  in 
the  first  rank  of  generals  of  the  English-speaking  race, 
with  Marlborough  and  Wellington;  and  his  admira- 
tion for  our  leader  is  constant  —  of  the  very  highest. 
A  letter  pointing  to  his  interest  in  Confederate  auto- 
graphs will  be  found  in  the  Appendix. 

Frank  Lawley,  tall,  handsome,  and  of  distinguished 


CONFEDERATE  STAFF  OFFICER      123 

appearance,  had  started  in  English  political  life  with 
everything  in  his  favor.  A  fine  University  education, 
natural  aptitude,  and  a  polished  pen  aided  him  in  be- 
coming secretary  to  Mr.  Gladstone  when  Chancellor  of 
the  Exchequer.  Soon,  however,  a  shadow  fell  on 
Lawley.  He  gave  up  his  post  and  political  life,  taking 
to  writing,  for  which  he  was  well  fitted.  The  Times 
had  sent  him  South,  and  he  was  about  Lee's  army 
nearly  two  years,  making  many  friends.  He  is  now 
one  of  the  principal  editors  of  the  London  Telegram, 
with  a  great  salary,  which,  as  of  old,  does  not  go  far 
with  him. 

Frank  Vizitelly  (Italian  family,  for  centuries  settled 
in  England)  was  a  burly-looking,  reckless  "  Bohe- 
mian," of  many  accomplishments.  He  could  write, 
could  sing,  could  draw  and  paint,  could  dance  and  ride, 
could  tell  good  stories  (good  only  in  the  telling,  not  in 
the  matter)  by  the  hour,  and,  finally,  could  drink  like  a 
fish,  and  did  so.  He  made  spirited  drawings  of  bat- 
tles, persons,  and  all  sorts  of  scenes  during  the  two 
years  he  was  with  us  in  the  South,  and  managed  to  get 
them  through  the  blockade  to  his  paper. 

When  Vizitelly  left  us  he  served  his  paper  all  over 
the  world,  whenever  there  was  war;  and  finally  joining 
Hicks  Pasha's  Expedition  for  subduing  the  Soudan, 
perished  in  the  complete  massacre  of  that  ill-fated 
column. 

His  name,  with  six  other  war  correspondents  who 
fell  at  their  several  posts  elsewhere,  is  carved  in  a  tablet 
set  in  the  walls  of  St.  Paul's  Cathedral,  London.  I 
never  thought  Vizitelly  could  possibly  come  to  such  re- 
spectable distinction. 


CHAPTER  XV 
THE  STAFF 

Staff  of  First  Corps  —  Kirkwood  Rangers  escort  —  A  camp  din- 
ner party  in  state  —  Lee's  aggressiveness  —  Ropes's  descrip- 
tion of  Lee  —  Duties  of  the  staff. 

The  organization  of  the  army  having  been  described, 
it  is  time  to  show  the  staff  of  the  First  Army  Corps ; 
thus,  October,  1862: 

Major  G.  M.  Sorrel,  A.  A.  G.  and  Chief  of 
Staff. 

Major  John  W.   Fairfax,   A.   A.   G.   and  In- 
spector. 

Major  Osmun  Latrobe,  A.  A.  G.  and  Inspector. 

Lieut-Col.  P.  T.  Manning,  Chief  of  Ordnance. 

Captain  F.  W.  Dawson,  Assistant  to  Chief  of 
Ordnance. 

Major  Thomas  Walton,  A.  D.  C. 

Captain  Thomas  Goree,  A.  D.  C. 

Lieutenant  Blackwell,  A.  D.  C. 

Major  R.  J.  Moses,  Chief  Commissary  of  Sub- 
sistence. 

Major  Mitchell,  Chief  Quartermaster. 

Captain  J.  H.  Manning,  Signal  Officer. 

Surgeon  J.  S.  D.  Cullen,  Medical  Director. 

Surgeon  R.  Barksdale,  Medical  Inspector. 

Surgeon  Kellum,  Medical  Inspector. 
124 


CONFEDERATE  STAFF  OFFICER      125 

Assistant  Surgeon  Thomas  Maury,  Assistant  to 

Medical  Director. 

Major  Chichester,  Commissary  of  Subsistence. 
Major  I.  G.  Clarke,  Engineer  Corps. 

Of  the  names  of  those  starting  out  with  Longstreet 
at  the  beginning  only  a  few  have  already  been  given. 
The  others  were  added  as  the  command  grew  in 
strength  and  wants.  Some  of  those  here  named  may 
not  have  joined  until  a  little  later  than  this  time,  which 
I  fix  at  about  November  15,  1862.  Latrobe,  a  Mary- 
lander,  had  been  serving  with  D.  R.  Jones's  small  divi- 
sion. Upon  its  being  broken  up  he  came  to  us  and 
proved  most  acceptable  to  the  Lieutenant-General,  and 
a  valuable  staff  officer.  He  was  eventually  to  succeed 
me  when  I  was  in  1864  promoted  to  command  in  an- 
other corps.  Moses,  the  chief  commissary,  had  been  a 
leading  lawyer  in  Georgia,  and  was  now  a  most  intelli- 
gent, efficient  officer.  He  was  much  older  than  most 
of  us,  but  "  bon  comrade,"  and  had  an  exhaustless  fund 
of  incident  and  anecdote,  which  he  told  inimitably. 

Latrobe,  whom  I  often  see,  is  my  dear  friend  as  I 
write;  in  fine  health  and  good  condition;  big  in  body 
and  frame  as  he  is  in  heart.  To  corps  headquarters  at 
this  time  was  attached  a  good  troop  of  cavalry  for 
courier  and  escort  service.  It  was  the  Kirkwood  Ran- 
gers, from  South  Carolina,  first  commanded  by  Cap- 
tain Shannon,  then  by  Captain  Tobey.  Captain  Shan- 
non was  that  excellent  man,  somewhat  advanced  in 
years,  and  retired,  who  was  forced  into  a  duel  in  South 
Carolina,  and  killed.  The  staff  well  understood  their' 
General  and  he  knew  them ;  they  worked  together  with 
good  results  and  never  did  one  of  them  fail  him. 

An  officer  who  might  also  be  numbered  on  the  staff 


126  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  A 

was  Colonel  E.  P.  Alexander,  although  he  commanded 
the  reserve  artillery ;  but  Longstreet  thought  so  well  of 
his  engineering  and  reconnoitering  abilities  that  he 
kept  him  very  near  headquarters. 

While  the  three  Englishmen  were  visiting  us  it  was 
decided  to  give  them  a  dinner.  Two  hospital  tents 
were  thrown  together  and  made  a  fine  mess  hall,  embel- 
lished with  trophies  of  arms  and  flags..  Flowers  and 
ferns  did  the  rest  for  decoration.  For  the  table  there 
were  planks  on  trestles,  and  the  same  for  seats.  The 
countryside  was  generous  in  lending,  as  well  as  giving 
provisions,  and  our  fete  did  not  lack  a  good  white  cover- 
ing over  its  bare  boards.  Provisions  were  plentiful 
outside  the  army  rations,  and  I  aver  that  on  this  occa- 
sion they  were  paid  for  honestly.  Young  pig,  well  fat- 
tened, turkeys,  fowls,  fresh  beef,  and  vegetables  topped 
off  the  commissary's  pork  and  hardtack.  There  were 
good  cooks  at  our  call,  and  the  negro  servants  of  the 
officers  fairly  grinned  with  delight  at  such  a  feast.  We 
had  many  officers  of  note  to  meet  our  guests,  and  the 
function  went  off  most  agreeably.  The  absence  of 
wine  was  conspicuous,  but  no  one  lacked  for  good 
whiskey,  and  perhaps  before  parting  it  had  been  tasted 
too  often  by  some.  After  dinner  came  cards — poker. 
The  Englishmen,  except  Wolseley,  knew  the  game  and 
enjoyed  it.  I  know  that  I  was  a  considerable  loser, 
then  a  turn  of  chance  brought  me  even,  and  soon  we 
quit  for  bed,  my  last  real  game  of  poker  to  this  dc 

The  army  had  now  been  long  enough  under  Lee 
to  satisfy  all  that  he  meant  fighting,  always  fighting. 
That  was  the  business  of  the  army,  and  only  by  fight- 
ing could  Virginia  be  cleared  of  the  enemy  and  Rich- 
mond made  secure.  When  he  first  took  command 
there  were  a  few  unthinking  speeches  made.  He  had 


CONFEDERATE  STAFF  OFFICER      127 

fortified  Richmond,  and  like  a  skilful  general  knew  the 
value  of  field-works  and  temporary  entrenchments. 
Some  in  the  army  were  given  to  speak  of  him  as  the 
"  King  of  Spades  "  who  would  never  allow  us  to  show 
fighting.  The  past  fourteen  months  had  indeed  opened 
the  eyes  of  these  sneerers. 

Ropes,  the  distinguished  Northern  military  historian, 
writing  always,  even  in  the  most  heated  controversy, 
fairly  and  dispassionately,  has  this  to  say  for  our  hero, 
en  passant,  in  one  of  his  books,  having  already  once 
declared  him  "  The  most  accomplished  soldier  of  the 
day": 

At  the  time  of  his  appointment  to  the  command  of  the  Army 
of  Northern  Virginia,  General  Lee  was  55  years  of  age,  in  per- 
fect health,  vigorous,  robust,  of  a  commanding  presence.  His 
character,  public  and  private,  was  of  the  highest.  In  intellect  it 
may  be  doubted  whether  he  was  superior  to  the  able  soldier 
whom  he  succeeded ;  indeed,  Joseph  E.  Johnston  possessed  as 
good  a  military  mind  as  any  general  on  either  side;  but  in  that 
fortunate  combination  of  qualities,  physical,  mental,  and  moral, 
which  go  to  make  up  a  great  commander,  General  Lee  was  un- 
questionably more  favored  than  any  of  the  leaders  of  the  Civil 
War.  He  possessed  at  once  the  entire  confidence  of  his  Gov- 
ernment and  the  unquestioning  and  enthusiastic  devotion  of  the 
army.  He  had  no  rival,  either  in  the  councils  of  the  Richmond 
War  Department  or  in  the  colloquies  around  camp-fires.  Lee's 
position  was  unique.  No  army  commander  on  either  side  was 
so  universally  believed  in,  .so  absolutely  trusted.  Nor  was  there 
ever  a  commander  who  better  deserved  the  support  of  his  Gov- 
ernment and  the  affection  and  confidence  of  his  soldiers. 

With  the  growth  of  Longstreet's  command  my  duties 
had  become  doubly  important,  and  with  weighty  re- 
sponsibilities. The  General  left  much  to  me,  both  in 
camp  and  on  the  field.  As  chief  of  his  staff  it  was 
my  part  to  respond  to  calls  for  instruction  and  to  an- 
ticipate them.  The  General  was  kept  fully  advised 
after  the  event,  if  he  was  not  near  by  at  the  time;  but 
action  had  to  be  swift  and  sure,  without  waiting  to 
hunt  him  up  on  a  different  part  of  the  field. 


128      CONFEDERATE  STAFF  OFFICER 

The  change  of  movement  of  a  brigade  or  division  in 
battle  certainly  carried  a  grave  responsibility,  but  it 
has  often  to  be  faced  by  the  chief  staff  officer  if  the 
general  happened  to  be  out  of  reach.  Nearly  two  years 
of  war  on  a  grand  scale  had  given  me  experience  and 
confidence,  and  Longstreet  was  always  generous  with 
good  support  when  things  were  done  apparently  for  the 
best.  This  gave  me  good  prestige  in  our  large  corps, 
and  I  found  hosts  of  friends  among  officers  and  men. 

The  reorganization  had  made  the  First  Corps  40,000 
strong,  effective,  by  the  time  it  got  to  Fredericksburg 
in  December.  Jackson's  Second  Corps  was  fully  38,- 
ooo  strong. 


CHAPTER  XVI 
EVENTS  PRECEDING  FREDERICKSBURG 

Burnside  in  command  of  Army  of  the  Potomac  —  Sketch  —  Lee's 
plans  —  At  Fredericksburg  —  General  Patrick,  U.  S.  A. — 
Flag-  of  truce  —  Arrival  of  army  in  position  —  Poor  defensive 
works  —  Bad-weater  march  —  Some  expedients  by  Long- 
street —  The  stone  wall  —  Major-General  McLaws,  Major- 
General  Hood,  Major-General  Anderson,  Major-General 
Walker  —  Sketches. 

The  new  commander  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac 
was  one  of  the  most  highly  respected  officers  of  the 
United  States  Army,  but  he  was  not  equal  to  the  com- 
mand, and  so  stated  to  the  officers  who  brought  him 
Mr.  Lincoln's  commission  and  orders. 

McClellan  was  of  decided  ability  in  many  respects; 
timorous,  but  safe ;  and  there  was  no  better  organizer. 
He  seemed  to  hate  battle,  and  it  is  surprising  that  with 
such  a  record  he  should  have  secured  and  retained  the 
devotion  and  confidence  of  his  men  to  the  very  end. 
There  was  no  lack  of  physical  courage ;  it  was  a  mental 
doubt  with  him. 

Burnside  had  no  prominent  reputation,  but  made  a 
success  of  an  unimportant  expedition  into  North  Caro- 
lina. He  conspicuously  failed  at  Sharpsburg,  where 
all  day  the  bridge  on  the  right  was  the  scene  of  combat, 
without  his  movement  to  seize  it.  His  great  corps,  held 
idly  in  hand,  was  equal  to  it  ten  times  over.  But  he 
may  have  been  waiting  on  McClellan,  with  whom  he 
was  in  the  closest  intimacy  of  friendship. 

At  all  events,  Burnside  could  and  would  fight,  even 

129 


130  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  A 

if  he  did  not  know  how,  and  after  "  Little  Mac  "  this 
was  what  Mr.  Lincoln  was  trying  for.  He  was,,  a 
handsome  man,  from  Rhode  Island,  of  fine,  courteous 
bearing. 

Franklin  should  have  been,  I  think,  the  man  for  Lin- 
coln; but  who  knows?  There  was  a  powerful  clique 
always  about  McClellan,  most  unwisely  at  difference, 
sometimes,  with  the  Administration. 

A  pause  in  the  operations  ensued  while  we  lay  about 
Bunker  Hill  and  Winchester.  But  Lee  had,  in  the  first 
half  of  November,  decided  where  he  should  make 
Burnside  fight.  It  was  Fredericksburg.  Longstreet 
had  previously  sent  McLaws's  division  east  of  the 
mountains  to  the  vicinity  of  Culpeper,  and  about  No- 
vember 1 6  started  him  for  the  old  town  on  the  Rappa- 
hannock,  following  a  day  or  two  later  from  his  Valley 
camps  with  the  remainder  of  the  corps. 

The  gaps  of  the  Blue  Ridge  were  well  occupied  and 
defended  by  Jackson  and  Stuart's  cavalry  during  Lee's 
transfer  of  his  army  in  this  delicate  strategical  opera- 
tion. 

I  parted  from  Longstreet  for  a  day  or  two,  and  ar- 
rived near  Fredericksburg  with  some  of  the  leading 
troops,  before  him. 

My  ride  was  in  the  worst  weather,  roads  deep  in  mud, 
with  rain  in  torrents.  Fredericksburg  is  one  of  the 
oldest  and  most  aristocratic  of  the  Virginia  towns. 
A  dwindling  trade  had  thinned  the  population  and 
quieted  its  ambitions.  At  this  time  the  place  was  the 
home  of  families  of  historical  importance  and  pres- 
ent interest,  with  a  thorough  knowledge  of  good  liv- 
ing, and  still  respectable  cellars  of  old  Madeira  that 
had  been  imported  by  them  many  years  before. 

The  enemy  had  a  small  garrison  there  and  a  pro- 


CONFEDERATE  STAFF  OFFICER      131 

vost  marshal,  an  elderly  United  States  officer,  kind 
and  gentle  in  his  authority,  and  much  liked  by  the 
citizens. 

From  this  officer  I  received  a  request  to  meet  him 
under  flag  of  truce,  and  we  made  acquaintance  in  a 
little  block-house  just  outside  the  town.  The  good  old 
General  Patrick  was  quite  in  ignorance  apparently  of 
the  great  operation  that  was  then  culminating.  Ex- 
pecting to  hold  the  city  with  his  little  garrison  he 
wished  to  avert  any  shelling  of  the  town  by  our  guns. 

His  friends  had  not  yet  made  their  appearance  on 
the  Falmouth  Hills,  commanding  the  town  on  the  left 
bank  of  the  river.  We  had  outstripped  their  march. 

General  Patrick  was  informed  that  he  must  at  once 
withdraw  from  Fredericksburg,  that  we  should  occupy 
it  in  force.  He  smiled,  thinking  it  a  bluff,  and  wanted 
to  know  where  the  soldiers  were.  On  this  point  he 
got  no  information,  of  course,  and  we  parted.  How- 
ever, he  was  soon  to  see  our  men  pouring  forward, 
and  McLaws's  division  seizing  the  city  and  posting 
his  gallant  Mississippians  on  the  river  front,  under  the 
intrepid  Barksdale. 

Patrick's  little  gang  had,  of  course,  immediately 
slipped  away  when  they  saw  what  was  coming. 

This  I  think  was  about  November  21.  The  entire 
army  soon  after  arrived  and  took  position  behind  the 
Rappahannock,  a  wide,  undulating  plain  for  the  most 
part  stretching  between  our  lines  and  the  river  it- 
self. Longstreet  took  the  left  and  Jackson  the  right; 
the  former's  most  important  point  being  the  stone 
wall  and  sunken  road  at  the  foot  of  Marye's  Hill. 

Looking  back  at  the  situation,  it  seems  surprising 
that  we  did  so  little  in  the  way  of  defensive  field- 
works.  The  enemy  in  great  masses  were  crowding  the 


I32  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  A 

Falmouth  Hills,  and  we  knew  intended  to  cross  and 
strike  us.  But  yet  we  contented  ourselves  with  the 
little  stone  wall  (which  proved  helpful),  and  two  or 
three  tiers  of  light  trenchwork  extended  on  the  slope 
of  the  hill  behind  and  on  our  left. 

The  like  observation  applies  to  Jackson,  whose  lines 
were  above  the  same  as  ours  in  strength,  except  the 
stone  wall. 

Later  in  the  war  such  a  fault  could  not  have  been 
found.  Experience  had  taught  us  that  to  win,  we 
must  fight ;  and  that  fighting  under  cover  was  the  thing 
to  keep  up  the  army  and  beat  the  enemy.  He  knew 
it,  too,  and  practised  it,  so  later  on  veterans  no  sooner 
got  to  facing  each  other  than  they  began  to  dig,  if  ever 
so  little;  a  little  trench,  a  tiny  hillock  is  often  a  very 
helpful  defense  and  protection. 

The  march  to  Fredericksburg  in  bad  weather  and 
over  almost  bottomless  roads  had  caused  great  suf- 
fering to  the  men  and  some  losses  among  the  animals. 
It  was  then  that  Longstreet  told  his  men  of  an  ex- 
pedient that  as  an  old  soldier  he  had  often  resorted 
to.  "  Rake,"  he  sent  word  to  the  men,  "  the  coals 
and  ashes  from  your  cooking  fires  and  sleep  on  that 
ground ;  it  will  be  dry  and  warm."  And  so  it  proved. 
Also,  there  being  many  barefooted  men,  "  Take  the 
rawhides  of  the  beef  cattle,  killed  for  food ;  cut  roughly 
for  a  moccasin-like  covering  for  the  feet,  and  there 
you  are  with  something  to  walk  in."  But  this  did  not 
go.  The  foot-wear  had  nothing  like  soles  of  stiffen- 
ing, and  in  the  mud  and  icy  slush  of  the  Virginian  roads 
the  moist,  fresh  skins  slipped  about  as  if  on  ice.  The 
wearers,  constantly  up  or  down,  finally  kicked  them 
aside  and  took  the  road  as  best  they  could,  barefooted 
or  wrapped  with  rags  or  straw.  Richmond  did  its 


CONFEDERATE  STAFF  OFFICER      133 

best  to  supply,  but  there  was  always  trouble  for  want 
of  shoes.  Great  quantities  were  run  in  from  England 
by  blockade,  but  they  were  worthless,  shoddy  things 
that  might  be  done  for  in  a  day's  use.  I  once  wore 
a  pair  of  them,  and  in  a  single  day  of  wet  and  mud 
the  cheats  came  to  pieces  and  developed  bits  of  paper 
and  odds  of  leather  things,  where  should  be  good, 
strong,  well  tanned  cow  skin. 

It  is  said  that  our  friends,  the  enemy,  across  the  lines 
fared  badly  as  well  in  shoddy,  and  that  too  from  their 
own  neighbors  and  countrymen. 

It  was  awfully  nasty  work  getting  down  to  that 
stone  wall  for  giving  orders  or  receiving  information, 
the  way  swept  by  the  enemy's  volume  of  fire  over  every 
foot.  Once  at  the  wall  it  was  fairly  snug,  but  the  com- 
ing back  was  still  worse,  and  one  drew  a  long  breath 
on  emerging  safely  from  the  deadly  fusilade. 

We  could  only  manage  it  on  foot  by  making  short 
rushes  from  point  to  point,  affording  perhaps  some 
little  cover.  It  was  on  such  a  duty  that  my  friend 
Lord  King  was  killed.  He  was  A.  D.  C.  to  McLaws, 
of  the  family  of  Kings  of  southern  Georgia. 

The  ranking  major-general  of  our  corps  was  L. 
McLaws,  his  division  made  up  of  Georgians,  Missis- 
sippians,  and  South  Carolinians.  He  was  an  officer 
of  much  experience  and  most  careful.  Fond  of  de- 
tail, his  command  was  in  excellent  condition,  and  his 
ground  and  position  well  examined  and  reconnoitered ; 
not  brilliant  in  the  field  or  quick  in  movement  there  or 
elsewhere,  he  could  always  be  counted  on  and  had  se- 
cured the  entire  confidence  of  his  officers  and  men. 

Maj.-Gen.  John  B.  Hood's  appearance  was  very 
striking;  in  age  only  34,  he  had  a  personality  that 
would  attract  attention  anywhere.  Very  tall  and  some- 


134  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  A 

what  loose- jointed ;  a  long,  oval  face  shaded  by  yellow- 
ish beard,  plentiful  hair  of  same  color,  and  voice  of 
great  power  and  compass. 

With  very  winning  manners,  he  is  said  to  have  used 
these  advantages  actively  for  his  own  advancement. 
But  apart  from  that,  his  services  in  the  field  were  of 
the  best.  Resigning  from  the  United  States  Army  he 
was  made  colonel  of  one  of  the  three  Texas  regiments 
that  were  sent  to  Virginia.  There  he  quickly  showed 
his  soldierly  qualities  and  was  made  brigadier-general 
over  the  brigade  formed  of  the  three  Texas  regiments 
and  the  Third  Arkansas.  It  was  conspicuous  in  all 
of  the  many  combats  in  which  it  was  engaged,  and 
Hood  soon  came  on  for  promotion  to  one  of  the  di- 
visions of  Longstreet's  corps.  As  major-general  he 
continued  to  display  high  qualities  and  he  might  be 
considered  an  ideal  officer  of  that  rank  and  command. 
At  Gettysburg  he  received  a  wound  in  the  arm.  It  isj 
said  that  at  Richmond,  while  convalescing,  he  suf- 
fered himself  to  criticize  very  freely  our  operations  in 
Pennsylvania.  As  soon  as  recovered  he  resumed  his 
division,  which  he  took  to  Chickamauga,  where  his 
conduct  was  magnificent.  There  he  lost  a  leg.  Long- 
street  immediately  recommended  him  to  promotion  to 
lieutenant-general,  which  was  done,  and  on  recovery 
Hood  was  assigned  to  the  Western  army  under.  J.  E. 
Johnston.  There  I  must  leave  him.  His  biographers 
will  relate  his  promotion  to  the  rank  of  full  general; 
his  superseding  Johnston;  his  march  to  the  enemy's 
rear;  the  sanguinary  battles  of  Franklin  and  Nash- 
ville, and  the  crushing  defeat  of  his  expedition  by 
Thomas,  making  possible  the  great  decisive  strategic 
operation  of  Sherman's  "  March  to  the  sea." 

Maj.-Gen.  G.  E.  Pickett  we  already  know.     He  had 


CONFEDERATE  STAFF  OFFICER      135 

a  very  fine  division  of  five  Virginia  brigades,  all  well 
commanded  by  brigadiers  who  greatly  helped  the  Ma- 
jor-General to  the  high  reputation  gained  by  this  gal- 
lant body  of  men. 

Ma j. -Gen.  Richard  H.  Anderson,  of  South  Caro- 
lina, had  been  a  captain  of  cavalry  in  the  United  States 
Army,  and  was  rather  an  interesting  character.  His 
courage  was  of  the  highest  order,  but  he  was  indolent. 
His  capacity  and  intelligence  excellent,  but  it  was  hard 
to  get  him  to  use  them.  Withal,  of  a  nature  so  true 
and  lovable  that  it  goes  against  me  to  criticize  him. 
He  had  served  well  as  a  brigadier-general,  and  now 
with  Longstreet,  commanding  a  division,  had  more  to 
do.  Longstreet  knew  him  well  and  could  get  a  good 
deal  out  of  him,  more  than  any  one  else.  His  di- 
vision was  of  Georgians,  South  Carolinians,  Alabam- 
ians  and  Mississippians. 

Maj.-Gen.  J.  B.  Walker  was  commanding  two  bri- 
gades of  North  Carolinians.  I  had  no  intimate  knowl- 
edge of  this  officer,  who  it  was  known  would  be  with 
the  Virginia  army  but  for  a  short  time.  He  bore  a 
high  reputation  among  those  of  his  acquaintance. 


CHAPTER  XVII 
BATTLE  OF  FREDERICKSBURG,  DECEMBER  13,  1862 

Enemy  massed  on  Stafford  Heights  —  Heavy  artillery  fire  —  The 
pontoon  bridge  —  Splendid  defense  of  Mississippians  — 
Enemy  crosses  —  Preparing  for  his  assault  —  Sumner's  at- 
tack on  Marye's  Hill  —  The  deadly  stone  wall  —  General 
Cobb  killed  —  General  Lee's  position  —  Jackson  in  uniform 

—  His  answer  to  Longstreet  —  Franklin's  attack  on  Jackson 

—  Enemy  escapes  across  the  river  —  Strength  and  losses  — 
Bursting  of  a  gun  —  Old  Madeiras  in  Fredericksburg —  An 
incident,  "  one  touch  of  nature  " —  Enemy  not  pursued. 

But  now  it  is  time  to  sketch  something  of  the  re- 
markable battle  that  the  quiet  waters  of  the  Rappahan- 
nock  were  to  see  fiercely  fought  in  torrents  of  blood 
across  the  plain  that  bordered  the  stream.  I  attempt 
no  description,  limiting  myself  to  some  stray  obser- 
vations. 

The  enemy  had  finally  massed  his  great  force  (122,- 
500  men)  on  Stafford  Heights  and  was  to  force  the 
passage  of  the  river.  Franklin  had  wisely  advised 
Burnside  to  do  the  work  with  half  the  army  against 
our  right,  and  Burnside,  at  first  assenting,  then  re- 
sumed his  original  intention  to  attack  our  center  with 
Sumner's  grand  division.  Well  for  us  that  he  did  so ! 

On  December  n  his  movements  began  by  attempt- 
ing to  set  his  pontoon  bridge  opposite  the  city  for  the 
crossing. 

It  was  opposed  by  General  Barksdale's  Mississippi 
Brigade  of  McLaws's  division,  and  stands  as  one  of  the 
finest  acts  of  heroism  and  stubborn  resistance  in  our 
military  annals. 

136 


CONFEDERATE  STAFF  OFFICER      137 

Burnside  first  poured  an  artillery  fire  in  the  de- 
voted town  and  defending  brigade  —  that  was  liter- 
ally an  "  enfer." 

There  had  been  nothing  like  it  before  in  this  war. 
Every  shot,  all  kinds  of  missiles,  were  thrown  at  the 
Mississippians  to  dislodge  them.  The  brave  fellows 
were  there,  however,  to  stay.  They  hid  themselves 
in  cellars,  wells,  holes  of  any  kind  where  they  could 
get  a  little  cover,  while  their  rifles  picked  off  the 
pontooners  pluckily  trying  to  throw  their  boats  across 
the  stream.  The  latter  fell  in  great  numbers  and  this 
went  on  nearly  all  day.  The  Confederates  would  not 
budge,  although  so  stubborn  a  defense  had  been  no  part 
of  our  expectation.  We  knew  the  town  would  be 
seized. 

Quite  late  the  bridge  effort  was  abandoned  by  the 
Federal  engineers.  Calling  for  volunteers  to  fill  the 
boats  and  cross  in  mass,  it  was  gallantly  answered. 
A  number  of  them  were  quickly  crowded,  and  not- 
withstanding our  fire  their  landing  was  soon  made  and 
the  town  occupied,  but  not  before  Barksdale  had  safely 
withdrawn  his  hard-fighting  fellows. 

They  had  the  cheers  of  the  army  for  their  day's 
brave  work. 

Then  began  that  night  and  all  next  day  and  night 
the  movement  of  Burnside's  great  army  across  the 
river.  More  brigades  were  added  and  there  were  sev- 
eral in  Franklin's  possession.  He  had  no  trouble  in 
laying  what  he  wanted  in  his  front. 

Thus  stood  Burnside,  his  army  facing  us  with  noth- 
ing between,  on  December  13,  and  bitter  cold,  Franklin 
operating  on  his  left  against  Jackson.  Sumner  in  the 
center  and  center-right  against  Longstreet,  who  also 
guarded  the  lines  extended  considerably  to  our  left. 


138  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  A 

Hooker's  grand  division  was  held  on  Stafford  Heights 
during  the  night  of  the  I2th. 

But  Marye's  Hill  was  our  strong  point.  Burnside 
wanted  it  and  there  he  threw  his  men  in  blind  and  im- 
potent fury.  It  was  held  by  T.  R.  R.  Cobb's  brigade 
of  Georgians  behind  a  stone  wall  at  first  and  another 
brigade  in  support.  The  front  here  was  quite  narrow. 
Ransom's  and  Cook's  North  Carolina  brigades  were 
in  light  trenches  higher  up  the  hill,  but  in  position  to 
deliver  deadly  fire,  and  did  so.  The  defense  at  the 
stone  wall  was  also  kept  carefully  reinforced  as  needed. 
There  was  some  artillery  in  pits  near  the  crest  of  the 
hill  that  did  effective  service. 

General  Lee's  position  with  his  staff  during  the  day 
was  on  a  small  hill  with  a  good  plateau,  from  which 
he  had  a  fair  view  of  Sumner's  attack  on  Longstreet, 
as  well  as  Franklin's  on  Jackson.  Longstreet  was 
much  of  the  time  with  him.  Before  the  hot  work  be- 
gan, "  Stonewall  "  rode  up  to  have  a  word  with  Lee. 
As  he  dismounted  we  broke  into  astonished  smiles. 
He  was  in  a  spick  and  span  new  overcoat,  new  uniform 
with  rank  marks,  fine  black  felt  hat,  and  a  handsome 
sword.  We  had  never  seen  the  like  before,  and  gave 
him  our  congratulations  on  his  really  fine  appearance. 
He  said  he  "  believed  it  was  some  of  his  friend  Stuart's 
doings." 

Franklin  was  in  great  masses  before  Jackson,  and 
before  mounting,  Longstreet  called  out,  "  Jackson, 
what  are  you  going  to  do  with  all  those  people  over 
there?"  "Sir,"  said  Stonewall,  with  great  fire  and 
spirit,  "  we  will  give  them  the  bayonet." 

There  is  really  now  but  little  more  to  be  said  in  de- 
tail of  the  battle.  In  front  of  us  it  was  hammer  and 
tongs  all  day  from  1 1  a.  m.  until  finally  Burnside  had 


CONFEDERATE  STAFF  OFFICER      139 

to  desist  in  sheer  weariness  of  slaughter.  His  troops 
advanced  to  their  assaults  with  the  finest  intrepidity, 
but  it  was  impossible  for  them  to  stand  before  our  fire. 
I  afterwards  saw  that  perhaps  not  more  than  half  a 
dozen  of  their  men  had  got  within  sixty  yards  of  our 
wall  and  dropped  there.  Not  once  was  there  any  sign 
of  faltering  or  weakness  among  our  troops ;  the  solid 
bodies  of  troops  attacking  might  easily  have  made  it 
otherwise  with  unseasoned  soldiers. 

On  our  right  Franklin  had  been  more  successful. 
He  managed  to  pierce  a  salient  that  should  have  been 
corrected  and  worsted  a  considerable  number  of  Jack- 
son's men.  The  line  was  retaken  and  restored,  but 
with  some  loss,  among  whom  was  Captain  Edward 
Lawton,  a  young  brother  of  General  Lawton,  of 
Georgia.  We  also  lost  at  Marye's  Hill  General  Cobb 
(T.  R.  R.),  of  Georgia,  deeply  mourned  as  one  of  the 
most  promising  officers  and  whole-souled  patriots  of 
the  South. 

When  darkness  fell  on  this  great  tragedy,  hostile 
movements  ceased  and  the  two  armies  were  caring 
for  the  "  butcher's  bill."  Ours  was  small  compara- 
tively, but  the  enemy  had  lost  very  heavily. 

A  thick  fog  or  mist  also  arose  and  enveloped  the 
enemy's  movements  in  strangeness  and  uncertainty. 
They  were  actually  started  on  hastily  recrossing  the 
river,  but  we  don't  appear  to  have  known  it.  Most 
of  the  day  of  the  I4th  it  was  thick  and  misty,  veiling 
successfully  the  enemy's  movements,  but  all  the  time 
he  was  preparing  for  his  retreat. 

He  was  not  attacked  while  in  this  exposed  position. 
Why  not  ?  It  is  generally  thought  it  would  have  been 
fatal  to  the  Federals  and  it  is  indisputable  that  they 
were  in  hourly  dread  of  it.  Some  say  Jackson  pro- 


140  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  A 

posed  a  night  attack,  but  I  doubt  it,  and  am  glad  it 
was  not  made. 

It  is  impossible  to  describe  the  confusion  of  such 
an  attempt  or  to  anticipate  what  might  happen.  I  was 
in  one  later  on  with  three  picked  brigades  of  the  high- 
est order  and  efficiency. 

The  roar  of  battle  between  Lookout  Mountain  and 
Brown's  Ferry  on  the  Tennessee  River  words  cannot 
express,  and  in  the  black  darkness  the  three  brigades 
achieved  worse  than  nothing. 

But  why  did  we  not  attack  on  the  I4th  in  daylight? 
Not  my  part  to  attempt  this  explanation,  but  it  looks 
much  as  if  we  were  "  building  a  bridge  of  gold  for 
the  flying  enemy." 

On  the  night  of  the  I7th  Burnside  withdrew  his 
army  to  his  old  camp  in  the  Falmouth  Hills. 

We  lost  in  killed  and  wounded  —  Longstreet,  1,519 ; 
Jackson,  2,682;  total,  4,201.  Jackson  was  also  re- 
ported as  having  lost  in  missing  526.  These  figures 
are  also  adopted  by  Ropes,  and  he  gives  Burnside's 
army  as  122,500,  ours  as  78,500.  I  do  not  think  that 
more  than  half  of  our  forces  were  engaged  on  the  I3th. 
The  Federal  losses,  attacks  on  Marye's  Hill,  8,000; 
loss  of  whole  army,  Federal,  12, 650  killed  and  wounded. 
(Ropes  figures.) 

The  hill  referred  to  as  affording  General  Lee  at 
Fredericksburg  a  point  of  view,  had  a  light  trench 
in  which  was  mounted  a  3O-pounder  Parrott  gun,  made 
in  Richmond.  The  lo-pounder  guns  of  that  make  had 
done  well,  but  those  of  heavy  caliber  were  treacherous. 
The  one  on  "  Lee's  Hill,"  as  it  came  to  be  called,  burst 
after  a  few  discharges.  Happily  it  did  not  send  frag- 
ments flying  about,  and  no  one  was  hurt.  The  im- 
mense breech  just  appeared  to  have  split  into  a  dozen 


CONFEDERATE  STAFF  OFFICER      141 

pieces  of  various  sizes  and  then  fallen  heavily  to  the 
ground.  We  were  rather  glad  to  have  done  with  such 
a  piece  of  metal. 

The  old  wines  of  the  good  people  of  Fredericksburg 
have  been  referred  to.  They  suffered  in  the  fortunes 
of  war.  A  few  nights  before  the  opening  of  the  bat- 
tle, which  was  then  imminent,  considerable  quantities 
of  fine  old  Madeira  and  other  varieties  were  taken 
out  of  cellars  and  bins,  and  sent  by  the  citizens  to  our 
fellows  in  camp,  equally  ready  for  drink  or  for  bat- 
tle. It  was  known  that  the  town  would  be  shelled 
and  occupied  by  the  Federals,  probably  looted  and 
plundered;  therefore  it  was  thought  safest  to  see  price- 
less old  vintages  passed  around  campfires  and  quaffed 
in  gulps  from  tincups.  Of  course  the  men  would  have 
better  liked  whiskey,  but  they  did  not  refuse  the  wine. 

An  incident  on  the  river  may  bear  telling.  It  was 
after  the  battle,  when  the  pickets  had  resumed  their 
posts  and  had  become  friendly ;  more  given  to  trading 
than  shooting  each  other  at  less  than  one  hundred  yards. 
The  authorities  had  to  set  their  faces  sternly  against 
this  trading.  It  led  to  desertion.  A  fine  Federal  band 
came  down  to  the  river  bank  one  afternoon  and  began 
playing  pretty  airs,  among  them  the  Northern  patriotic 
chants  and  war  songs.  "  Now  give  us  some  of  ours !  " 
shouted  our  pickets,  and  at  once  the  music  swelled  into 
Dixie,  My  Maryland,  and  the  Bonnie  Blue  Flag.  Then, 
after  a  mighty  cheer,  a  slight  pause,  the  band  again 
began,  all  listening;  this  time  it  was  the  tender,  melt- 
ing bars  of  Home,  Sweet  Home,  and  on  both  sides  of 
the  river  there  were  joyous  shouts,  and  many  wet  eyes 
could  be  found  among  those  hardy  warriors  under  the 
flags.  "  One  touch  of  nature  makes  the  whole  world 
kin." 


142      CONFEDERATE  STAFF  OFFICER 

Of  course  the  enemy's  powerful  artillery  on  Staf- 
ford Heights  would  have  been  an  efficient  aid  in  re- 
sisting an  attack  on  his  infantry  before,  and  while  re- 
crossing  the  river.  But  they  were  badly  demoralized 
and  would  probably  not  have  stood  long  with  that 
threatening  river  in  their  rear  and  the  triumphant  Con- 
federates in  the  front.  There  was  much  private  dis- 
cussion then,  and  after,  among  the  intelligent  of  the 
.  Federals  as  to  why  they  were  not  struck  after  their 
sanguinary  defeat.  A  general  belief  existed  among 
them  that  we  were  deficient  in  ammunition,  the  only 
explanation  many  of  them  were  able  to  arrive  at.  We 
had  no  want  of  it. 


AFTER  FREDERICKSBURG  —  REMINISCENCES 

Fredericksburg  after  the  battle  —  Flag  of  truce  —  Burying  dead 
— -General  Wadsworth,  U.  S.  A. —  Again  on  enemy's  side 
with  flag  of  truce  —  At  their  picket  fire  —  Colonel  Brown, 
of  Rhode  Island  —  Bitter  cold  —  All  night  in  their  camp  — 
Luxuries  for  the  wounded  —  First  Georgia  Regulars  —  They 
are  ordered  home  —  Want  of  shoes  —  Captain  Cuthbert,  of 
South  Carolina. 

The  battle  was  indeed  fought  and  finished,  and  al- 
though the  triumph  of  victory  rested  with  us,  and  the 
enemy  was  back  in  his  lines,  beaten  and  dispirited,  yet 
it  cannot  be  said  that  there  had  been  achieved  a  result 
so  decisive  as  to  bring  us  near  the  end  of  the  war. 

We  were  caring  for  our  dead.  The  enemy  was  to 
do  so  for  his.  They  lay  in  great  numbers  on  the  plain. 
General  Lee  wrote  Burnside  and  I  carried  the  letter 
under  a  flag  of  truce  through  the  town  to  the  ferry, 
where  was  found  a  pontoon,  and  my  men  took  me 
across.  It  was  pitiful  riding  through  the  town,  con- 
siderably damaged  as  it  was  by  the  artillery  fife  from 
Stafford  Heights,  but  more  still  from  the  plundering 
and  looting  that  had  gone  on  while  in  possession  of 
the  United  States  troops.  Furniture,  bedding,  mat- 
tresses, carpets,  china,  domestic  utensils,  indeed  all 
that  went  to  make  up  those  comfortable  homes,  were 
strewn  helter  skelter,  broken  and  ruined  about  the 
streets.  The  streets  were  filled  with  distressed  women 
and  children,  both  black  and  white.  But  we  passed  on 
— "  C'est  a  la  guerre  comme  a  la  guerre ! ""  My  pon- 

143 


144  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  A 

toon  landed  me  at  the  foot  of  a  steep  road  that  ascended 
the  hill  and  I  was  immediately  met  by  a  number  of 
officers  in  brilliant  uniforms.  For  myself  I  must  have 
been  awfully  shabby;  never  at  any  time  given  to  mili- 
tary finery,  while  campaigning,  I  think  I  was  worse 
off  than  usual  here  at  Fredericksburg.  The  weather 
had  been  atrocious,  and  mud  and  I  were  closely  ac- 
quainted day  and  night.  There  was,  too,  so  much  to 
do  that  one  had  no  time  for  repairing  damages. 

But  my  reception  by  the  Federal  officers  was  ex- 
tremely courteous  while  awaiting  an  answer  to  Gen- 
eral Lee's  missive,  now  on  its  way  to  Burnside,  whose 
headquarters  were  near  by. 

There  were  Major-General  Park,  chief  of  staff  to 
the  army;  Major-General  Wadsworth  (whom  I  was  to 
see  in  eighteen  months  at  the  "  Wilderness  "  under 
different  circumstances)  ;  Brig.-Gen.  Jim  Hardie,  and 
many  others,  all  having  some  inquiries  to  make  for 
friends  on  our  side.  General  Wadsworth  asked  me 
how  many  dead  I  thought  lay  on  our  front.  "  I  ask, 
Major,"  he  said,  "  so  as  to  make  my  burying  parties 
strong  enough." 

I  said :  "  I  cannot  possibly  guess  with  any  approach 
to  accuracy.  I  have  only  ridden  through  the  slain  in 
front  of  Marye's  Hill,  and  it  seemed  that  there  must 
be  at  least  800  there  awaiting  burial."  "  My  God,  my 
God !  "  groaned  the  old  officer,  deeply  impressed  by 
such  mortality.  Instead  of  800,  they  buried  nearly 
1,200  men  in  that  small  front,  besides  some  300  in 
front  of  Jackson's  position.  General  Burnside's  an- 
swer soon  came,  and  saluting  my  Federal  acquaint- 
ances I  was  quickly  on  our  own  side  of  the  river  and 
the  Federal  commander's  letter  in  Lee's  possession. 

Strong  burial  parties  immediately  came  across  for 


CONFEDERATE  STAFF  OFFICER      145 

itheir  ghastly  duty.  General  Wadsworth  was  a 
wealthy,  middle-aged  man  from  the  lovely  Genesee 
Valley,  New  York,  owning  great  tracts  of  land;  but 
considered  it  his  patriotic  duty  to  raise  some  battalions 
for  the  army  and  did  so,  placing  himself  at  their  head. 
The  Government  showed  him  all  honor,  conferring  at 
once  high  rank. 

A  day  or  two  later  it  became  necessary  to  see  the 
Northerners  again.  Their  burying  parties  were  mak- 
ing hideous  work  with  the  dead  soldiers;  throwing 
them  in  heaps  in  shallow  trenches,  barely  covered ;  fill- 
ing the  country  ice  houses  and  wells  with  them;  in- 
deed, doing  this  work  most  brutally  for  themselves, 
and  intolerably  for  our  citizens.  General  Lee  called 
Burnside's  attention  to  the  revolting  conduct  of  the 
latter's  men  and  I  went  across  the  river,  with  also  some 
verbal  details. 

The  pontoon  had  been  drawn  in  by  the  owners  and 
was  in  the  Union  rear  with  the  bridge  train.  There 
was  naught  to  cross  in  except  a  broken,  leaky  little 
batteau  that  was  found  in  a  cellar.  The  river  was 
smooth  and  one  of  my  men  managed  to  paddle  the 
crazy  thing  safely  across.  There  I  was  met  by  Colonel 
Brown,  commanding  a  Rhode  Island  regiment  on 
picket  duty,  who  civilly  invited  me  to  the  comfort  of 
his  camp  fire  while  awaiting  the  communication  from 
his  army  headquarters,  now  quite  a  distance  off.  I 
was  detained  some  time,  and  the  Colonel  (a  lawyer  of 
high  reputation  from  Providence,  Rhode  Island),  had 
time  for  much  general  talk.  At  last,  making  my 
thanks  and  farewell,  I  started  back,  only  to  find  my 
man  at  the  river's  edge  almost  frozen  and  the  batteau 
sunk  out  of  sight  with  darkness  on  us!  A  pretty 
kettle  of  fish,  indeed !  The  water  rough,  wind  strong, 


146  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  A 

and  already  freezing.  There  was  nothing  for  it  but 
to  take  my  man  back  with  me  to  the  picket  and  get  a 
message  to  headquarters  of  my  plight,  with  request  of 
assistance  to  cross.  After  another  considerable  wait 
there  came  an  officer  and  several  mounted  orderlies 
leading  a  good  horse;  this  was  for  me.  The  officer 
brought  a  civil  message  from  the  adjutant-general  re- 
gretting that  they  had  nothing  at  hand  to  float  (their 
pontoons  being  in  the  rear),  and  hoping  I  could  be 
made  comfortable  for  the  night.  Leaving  my  soldier 
to  the  good  care  of  the  friendly  pickets,  I  mounted  and 
was  led  to  the  large  house  on  the  hill,  at  that  time  in 
use  as  a  hospital.  There  my  escort  left  me  and  I 
found  myself  for  the  night  in  the  great  kitchen  of  the 
establishment,  filled  with  bright  warmth  and  savory 
smells  of  good  food. 

A  blanket  or  two  had  to  do  me  for  bedding,  but  I 
was  soon  asleep,  after  the  soldier  cooks  had  given  me 
food,  always  with  full  respect  to  rank  and  authority. 

To  see  what  they  had,  its  quality,  its  abundance, 
filled  one's  heart  with  envy  when  contrasted  with  the 
doled-out,  bare  necessities  of  life  the  lot  of  our  own 
uncomplaining  fellows. 

Here  in  this  great  kitchen  were  huge  swinging  ves- 
sels of  odorous  real  coffee;  immense  chunks  of  fat, 
fresh  beef  of  all  parts  of  the  animal;  great  slabs  of 
dessicated  vegetables,  which,  when  thrown  with 
"knuckles  of  meat  and  good  flesh  into  the  boiling  caul- 
dron, puffed  out,  swelling  each  vegetable  into  some- 
thing like  freshness,  and  then  with  free  dashes  of  salt 
and  pepper,  behold,  a  soup  of  strength  and  tastiness  fit 
for  Faint  Heart  to  fight  on.  They  gave  me  of  it  all 
and  I  tasted  all,  sleeping  well  and  early  up.  My  man, 
who  had  fared  well  too,  was  soon  at  hand,  and  the 


CONFEDERATE  STAFF  OFFICER      147 

boat  raised,  bailed  out,  landed  us  safely  on  our  own 
bank.  The  soldier  with  me  was  Jesse  Beall,  private 
from  Milledgeville  in  a  Georgia  regiment.  I  was  dis- 
posed at  first  to  be  vexed  by  such  rough  lodgings  (a 
parlementaire  being  entitled  to  the  best),  but  Colonel 
Kip  explained  that  there  was  really  nothing  else  to  be 
done  at  that  hour  of  night.  Of  course  they  could  not 
carry  me  through  the  lines  to  their  own  comfortable 
staff  quarters  in  the  rear. 

Many  years  after,  hearing  that  there  was  in  Savan- 
nah, passing  through,  a  Colonel  Brown,  of  Rhode  Is- 
land, with  his  wife,  I  called  on  him.  It  proved  to  be 
my  friend  of  the  picket  fire,  and  his  wife,  with  much 
enthusiasm,  declared  he  had  spoken  of  the  incident  fifty 
times.  Colonel  Brown  had  some  more  talk  this  time, 
quite  free,  and  like  very  many  Union  officers  marveled 
why  they  were  not  attacked  after  a  repulse  so  bloody 
and  disastrous.  He  said  that  want  of  ammunition 
could  only  explain  it  to  him.  Brown  was  a  middle 
aged,  delicate  man,  a  member  of  the  well-known  Brown 
family  of  Rhode  Island. 

He  said  he  had  raised  his  regiment  from  patriotic 
convictions  and  carried  it  through  the  battle  of  Fred- 
ericksburg ;  then  he  gave  way  to  younger,  stronger  men 
and  resigned.  He  was  a  broad,  fair-minded  man, 
with  no  deep  prejudices  against  the  South.  Next  year 
he  died,  his  townsmen  showing  in  every  way  the  honor 
and  respect  in  which  he  was  held. 

The  First  Georgia  Regulars  were  posted  at  Hamil- 
ton's Crossing,  near  Fredericksburg,  and  had  its  ranks 
much  thinned  by  the  casualties  of  several  campaigns. 
It  could  not  be  recruited  like  other  regiments,  being 
enlisted  from  all  parts,  and  the  Department  therefore 
ordered  it  home  to  fill  its  ranks. 


148  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  A 

I  rode  myself,  orders  in  hand,  to  its  camp.  I  had 
many  friends  among  the  officers  and  knew  how  de- 
lighted they  would  be;  and  so  it  was,  a  wild  shout  of 
happiness  at  seeing  old  Georgia  again,  and  the  skeleton 
battalion  began  packing  almost  immediately  for  the 
route.  After  doing  some  enlistment  it  took  an  honor- 
able part  in  the  battle  of  Olustee,  fought  in  Florida. 
Lieutenant  Sorrel  was  with  them  until  a  captain's  com- 
mission in  the  Adjutant-General's  Department  sent  him 
to  report  in  Virginia  to  Gen.  John  Bratton's  South 
Carolina  Brigade. 

I  was  in  Europe  in  the  summer  of  1860,  and  trav- 
eled on  the  continent  a  few  weeks  with  George  Cuth- 
bert,  of  Beaufort,  South  Carolina.  He  was  a  pleasant 
fellow,  and  handsome,  of  good  height  and  figure,  and 
the  fairest  blonde,  with  beautiful  blue  eyes.  Even  in 
fair-haired  Saxony,  people  turned  to  look  at  him. 

The  war  broke  out  and  I  did  not  know  where  Cuth- 
bert  would  be  serving.  One  day,  however,  in  the  win- 
ter of  1862-63,  riding  by  the  lines  of  one  of  our  South 
Carolina  regiments,  up  rose  Cuthbert,  and  I  was  imme- 
diately on  my  feet  beside  him.  He  was  a  line  captain, 
had  been  wounded,  and  was  at  the  moment  as  shabby 
a  Confederate  soldier  as  could  be  found  anywhere. 
Razors  had  been  discarded,  and  the  German  girls  who 
liked  to  look  at  the  handsome  Southerner  would  not 
have  deigned  him  a  glance.  I  resolved  to  do  some- 
thing for  his  advancement,  but  the  channels  were  such 
that  I  could  not  get  him  out  of  them.  Soon  after, 
however,  an  order  came  from  Richmond  to  detail  160 
shoemakers  for  the  use  of  the  Quartermaster-General 
—  such  was  the  stress  we  were  in  for  shoes.  Half  the 
detail  was  ordered  from  Jackson's  corps  and  half  from 
Longstreet's.  I  sent  out  orders  for  our  eighty  cris- 


CONFEDERATE  STAFF  OFFICER      149 

pins,  and  when  they  were  picked  out  of  the  whole 
corps,  word  was  given  to  Captain  Cuthbert  to  report  at 
corps  headquarters  and  a  brief  colloquy  opened. 

"  I  say,  Cuthbert,  would  you  like  to  go  to  Rich- 
mond ?  "  "  Wouldn't  .1 !  —  clean  clothes,  soap,  a  bath 
and  a  shave !  "  "  Eighty  shoemakers  are  to  be  taken 
there  by  rail  and  then  turned  over  to  the  Quartermas- 
ter-General, and  an  officer  must  take  the  detail.  Will 
you  have  it  ?  "  "  My  dear  Sorrel,  give  it  to  me ;  for 
God's  sake,  give  it  to  me  —  such  a  change  after  my 
long  trench  service.  I'd  land  them  safely  with  the  Q. 
M.  G.  if  they  were  eighty  raving  demons  instead  of  the 
happy  fellows  they  doubtless  are  in  getting  such  a  de- 
tail." "  All  right,  old  chap,  take  your  fellows  off  by 
train  to-morrow;  here  are  the  orders.  And  I  say, 
Cuthbert,  while  you  are  in  Richmond  don't  hurry  too 
much;  you  can  make  the  duty  last  you  a  week  or  ten 
days." 

He  was  very  grateful  for  being  thought  of,  per- 
formed his  work  satisfactorily,  and  then  enjoyed  him- 
self hugely. 

I  was  glad  to  think  of  this  later,  since  he  was  one  of 
many  personal  friends  who  gave  up  his  life  in  battle. 
The  incident  also  illustrated  the  great  straits  the  Con- 
federate supply  department  was  in  to  keep  the  troops 
equipped  for  the  field.  This  was  especially  the  case 
with  shoes. 


CHAPTER  XIX 
To  SOUTH  VIRGINIA  FOR  SUPPLIES 

Burnside's  "  mud  march  " —  His  removal  —  Hooker  superseding 
him  —  Our  great  want  of  supplies  —  Longstreet  ordered  to 
South  Virginia  —  Hood's  and  Pickett's  divisions  with  him  — 
I  precede  them  —  Inspecting  fort  at  Washington,  N.  C. — 
Rejoin  the  command  at  Suffolk  —  Gathering  supplies  —  Op- 
erations against  Suffolk  not  successful  —  Ordered  back  to 
Lee  —  All  haste  —  No  time  lost,  but  too  late  for  Chancellors- 
ville  —  Pickett's  courtship  —  Harrison,  the  scout  —  Death  of 
Stonewall  Jackson  —  Lieutenant  Habersham. 

Here  then  for  some  weeks  did  the  two  armies  lay  in 
the  peace  of  camp  life  after  the  fever  of  battle.  Burn- 
side  attempted  a  movement,  known  as  the  mud  march, 
quickly  made  abortive  by  the  condition  of  roads,  and 
then  Mr.  Lincoln  reluctantly  removed  him,  placing 
Hooker  — "  Fighting  Joe  Hooker  " —  in  command  of 
the  Army  of  the  Potomac.  It  was  in  May  before  he 
attempted  his  disastrous  move  against  Lee  and  Jack- 
son. 

Meantime,  our  army  was  in  want  of  all  supplies. 
The  subsistence  department  lacked  fresh  meat.  In 
southern  Virginia  and  eastern  North  Carolina  there 
were  said  to  be  large  quantities  of  small  cattle  which, 
fattened  on  the  good  Virginia  pasture  lands,  would 
greatly  help  the  subsistence  officers.  There  were  also 
there  large  stores  of  bacon  and  corn.  It  was  decided 
to  send  part  of  Lee's  army  to  operate  in  that  region, 
and,  at  the  same  time,  by  covering  large  wagon  trains, 
we  should  be  enabled  to  use  that  part  of  the  country 
for  the  Virginia  army. 

150 


CONFEDERATE  STAFF  OFFICER      151 

It  had  sometimes  been  occupied  by  the  enemy,  at  all 
times  exposed  to  their  sudden  incursions.  But  these, 
it  is  thought,  formed  the  least  of  the  reasons  govern- 
ing Lee  when  sending  Longstreet  and  two  of  his  strong 
divisions  to  Nansemond  and  Suffolk.  It  was  daring 
to  make  such  a  large  draft  on  his  army,  but  Lee  was 
given  to  daring  efforts,  with  a  great  objective  in  view. 
The  Northern  army  was  becoming  dangerously  strong 
for  him  to  view  calmly,  and  another  strong  body  was 
preparing  to  threaten  Richmond  from  a  different  quar- 
ter. Lee  may  have  reasoned,  as  he  did  in  some  of  his 
Valley  operations,  that  by  detaching  Longstreet, 
Hooker  would  be  quickly  induced  to  follow  him,  by 
sending  from  his  army  a  still  larger  force  for  the  safety 
of  the  threatened  districts.  But  it  proved  they  had 
enough  troops  for  such  reinforcements  without  impair- 
ing Hooker's  great  strength. 

Our  two  divisions,  Hood's  and  Pickett's,  and  a  bat- 
talion of  artillery  broke  camp  and  halted  at  Peters- 
burg, whence  the  force  found  camps  on  the  Nansemond 
River,  in  a  manner  besieging  the  town  of  Suffolk, 
strongly  held  by  the  Federals. 

By  Longstreet's  order  I  set  out  alone  for  a  short 
visit  of  inspection  to  the  eastern  boundary  of  North 
Carolina.  It  was  the  little  town  of  Washington,  on 
the  head  of  a  tidal  river,  that,  I  think,  I  first  visited. 
There  was  nothing  there  but  a  well-built,  strong  earth- 
work fort,  and  a  fine,  full  regiment,  doing  nothing  and 
eager  for  action.  It  was  not  likely  to  come  to  them  at 
that  dull  place,  and  on  my  recommendation  the  regi- 
ment was  sent  to  Lee. 

The  lieutenant-colonel  (Lamb)  gave  me  a  warm  fur 
collar,  which  was  always  a  comfort,  and  he  was  de- 
lighted with  the  pair  of  spurs  I  made  him  accept  from 


152  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  A 

me  (they  were  made  from  the  brass  trunnion  beds  of 
the  monitor  Keokuk,  sunk  by  our  forces  at  Charles- 
town).  Poor  Lamb  was  killed  in  the  first  engage- 
ment of  his  regiment.  My  instructions  were  to  lose 
no  time,  but,  after  a  glance  around,  hasten  back  to  the 
command.  When  I  returned  it  was  seen  that  nothing 
had  been  achieved.  Some  little  bluffing  had  been  made 
at  the  town  of  Suffolk,  in  which  we  lost  two  pieces  of 
artillery  and  gained  nothing.  Time  was  passing,  the 
Virginia  roads  improving,  and  some  restlessness  ap- 
parent among  us.  We  knew,  of  course,  that  Hooker 
must  soon  fight,  and  that  we  should  be  there.  At  last 
General  Lee  sent  for  us  in  haste,  not  a  moment  was  to 
be  lost.  Not  a  moment  was  lost ;  we  threw  everything 
into  movement,  realizing  how  keenly  our  beloved  com- 
mander and  comrades  on  the  Rappahannock  would  be 
wanting  their  LieutenantJGeneral  and  his  two  splendid 
divisions.  But  it  was  humanly  impossible.  We  were 
late,  Hooker  had  attacked  rather  earlier  than  ex- 
pected, and  on  May  3  the  battle  was  given,  and  our 
great  Jackson  fell  in  glorious  victory  while  we  were 
miles  distant  by  railroad  from  the  memorable  field  of 
Chancellorsville. 

General  Pickett  was  a  widower,  but  had  recently 
suffered  himself  to  fall  in  love  with  all  the  ardor  of 
youth.  The  object  of  these  fiery,  if  mature,  affections 
dwelt  not  far  from  Suffolk.  Pickett's  visits  were  fre- 
quent, a  long  night  ride  and  return  for  duty  early  next 
day.  Perhaps  he  had  wearied  Longstreet  by  frequent 
applications  to  be  absent,  but  once  he  came  to  me  for 
the  authority.  My  answer  was,  "  No,  you  must  go  to 
the  Lieutenant-General."  "  But  he  is  tired  of  it,  and 
will  refuse.  I  swear,  Sorrel,  I'll  be  back  before  any- 
thing can  happen  in  the  morning."  I  could  not  permit 


CONFEDERATE  STAFF  OFFICER      153 

myself  to  be  moved.  If  anything  did  happen,  such  as 
a  movement  of  his  division  or  any  demonstration 
against  it,  my  responsibility  for  the  absence  of  the 
Major-General  could  not  be  explained.  But  Pickett 
went  all  the  same,  nothing  could  hold  him  back  from 
that  pursuit.  He  married  some  time  after.  I  don't 
think  his  division  benefited  by  such  carpet-knight  do- 
ings in  the  field. 

While  Longstreet  was  holding  this  brief  independent 
command,  a  scout,  more  properly  a  spy,  was  placed  at 
his  service  by  the  War  Department,  He  was  a  man  of 
about  thirty  years,  calling  himself  a  Mississippian,  and 
was  altogether  an  extraordinary  character.  He  was 
paid  in  United  States  greenbacks.  I  approved  requisi- 
tion on  the  quartermaster  every  month  for  $150  for 
him.  His  time  seemed  to  be  passed  about  equally 
within  our  lines  and  the  enemy's.  Harrison  (such  was 
his  name)  always  brought  us  true  information.  There 
was  invariable  confirmation  of  his  reports  afterwards. 

While  always  suspicious  that  such  secret  instruments 
give  away  as  much  as  they  bring  and  may  be  in  the 
pay  of  both  sides,  it  was  difficult  to  be  sure  of  this  in 
Harrison's  case.  He  went  everywhere,  even  through 
Stanton's  War  Office  at  Washington  itself,  and 
brought  in  much.  We  could  never  discover  that  he 
sold  anything  against  us;  besides,  we  had  means,  and 
did  verify  his  account  of  himself  as  coming  from 
Mississippi.  When  Longstreet  gave  him  up  in  Sep- 
tember, he  was  sorry  afterwards  and  missed  the  man. 
He  made  me  try  to  get  him  back  for  our  command, 
but  I  failed. 

There  will  be  more  to  say  of  Harrison  before  losing 
him.  On  the  whole  he  appears  to  have  been  a  daring 
Southerner,  hating  Yankees  most  bitterly,  but  loving 


154  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  A 

their  greenbacks,  and  fond  of  secret,  perilous  adven- 
ture. Latrobe  recently  heard  from  him  in  Baltimore, 
in  want,  and  asking  some  small  assistance. 

Upon  rejoining  our  army  after  Chancellorsville  we 
were,  of  course,  eager  questioners  and  listeners  for 
everything  about  the  battle. 

Gratifying  it  was  to  hear  on  all  sides  of  the  conduct 
of  our  two  divisions,  which  bore  so  large  a  part  of  the 
attacks  on  Lee.  Anderson  and  McLaws  had  never 
fought  better ;  while  Lee,  to  hold  his  position  and  beat 
off  Hooker,  had  to  have  the  very  best  every  man  could 
give  him.  It  was  a  battle  most  extraordinary  in  its 
execution  and  development.  The  powerful  movement 
on  Lee's  rear  by  Sedgwick's  force  from  Fredericks- 
burg  was  enough  to  disconcert  any  ordinary  com- 
mander. Lee,  calm  and  undismayed,  met  it  by  thin- 
ning out  his  lines  to  almost  a  frazzle,  and  throwing  a 
good  division  before  John  Sedgwick,  while  he  and 
Jackson  were  preparing  the  blow  that  made  "  Fighting 
Joe  Hooker's  "  head  split  with  surprise  and  agony  and 
sent  him  flying  back  across  the  Rappahannock. 

The  great  flank  movement  of  Stonewall  had  been 
carefully  planned  by  Lee  and  most  brilliantly  exe- 
cuted by  the  Lieutenant.  But  the  army  had  suffered 
the  irreparable  loss  of  that  hero.  Struck  down  in  the 
gloaming  and  thick  foliage  of  the  forest,  by  his  own 
men,  his  dauntless  spirit  clung  to  his  army  for  a  week, 
among  ever-hopeful  soldiers,  and  then  took  its  war- 
rior's flight  to  its  Supreme  Maker.  There  was  none 
left  in  his  place;  there  was  but  one  Jackson. 

When  Marye's  Hill  was  attacked  by  Sedgwick  in 
Lee's  rear,  the  battery  in  action  there  had  to  make  a 
hurried  escape.  One  of  its  officers,  a  dear  friend  of 
mine,  Lieut.  Frederick  Habersham,  had  been  killed  at 


CONFEDERATE  STAFF  OFFICER      155 

his  section.  His  comrades  determined  to  have  his 
body,  and  lashed  it  to  the  trail  of  a  gun,  and  there  it 
hung,  firmly  bound,  a  sight  not  often  witnessed,  while 
the  battery,  already  late  in  retiring,  was  at  a  gallop  in 
escape  from  the  pursuing  enemy.  It  was  accomplished 
handsomely,  and  the  brave  fellow  received  his  inter- 
ment by  the  hands  of  loving  wife  and  friends  at  his 
home  in  Savannah.  It  was  my  brother,  Doctor  Sor- 
rel, in  Richmond,  who,  with  many  difficulties,  arranged 
for  the  care  and  transportation  home  of  the  slain  ar- 
tillerist. 


CHAPTER  XX 
PREPARING  FOR  GETTYSBURG 

Preparations  for  summer  campaign  —  Army  reorganized  —  Three 
Army  Corps  —  A.  P.  Hill  made  lieutenant-general,  com- 
manding Third  Corps  —  Lieutenant-General  Ewell  command- 
ing Second  Corps  —  Stuart's  cavalry  reviewed  —  Its  fine  con- 
dition —  Longstreet  and  his  scout  Harrison  —  Lee's  intricate 
operations  —  Stuart's  cavalry  movements  —  He  crosses  be- 
low —  The  loss  to  Lee  —  The  march  through  Maryland  and 
Pennsylvania  —  No  depredations  —  Halt  at  Chambersburg  — 
Scout  Harrison  reports  Meade  in  command,  superseding 
Hooker  —  Ewell  ordered  to  leave  —  March  resumed,  A.  P. 
Hill  leading,  gaining  decided  success. 

General  Lee  began  now  to  prepare  for  his  summer 
campaign.  It  was  secretly  settled  that  it  should  be  an 
invasion  of  Pennsylvania.  There  were  many  things 
that  assisted  in  arriving  at  this  decision  in  the  confer- 
ences with  the  president  and  chiefs  of  the  Government 
at  Richmond.  Virginia  had  been  fiercely  fought  over, 
and  ravaged  by  the  tramp  of  hostile  armies.  Now,  it 
looked  as  if  the  enemy  should  feel  something  of  such 
sacrifices.  If  we  could  live  on  the  supplies  we  hoped 
to  find  north  of  the  Potomac,  the  already  serious  ques- 
tion of  food  and  forage  for  our  men  and  animals 
would  lighten  up  temporarily,  at  least;  and  finally,  the 
men  of  arms  were  eager  for  the  movement  and  most 
enthusiastic  at  the  start. 

First  of  all,  Lee  had  to  reorganize  his  army.  Jack- 
son's death  made  this  necessary ;  besides,  the  two  corps 
had  grown,  individually,  rather  large  for  effective 
handling.  He  created  a  third  corps  and  placed  A.  P. 

156 


CONFEDERATE  STAFF  OFFICER      157 

Hill  in  command  of  it,  perhaps  the  best  arrangement 
possible  at  the  time.  One  division  was  taken  from 
Longstreet  —  Anderson's ;  one  from  Jackson  — 
Heth's,  and  the  third,  under  Fender,  was  made  up  of 
unassigned  commands,  of  which  there  were  quite  a 
number  between  Richmond  and  the  General's  camps. 

The  second  (Ewell's)  was  of  Early's,  Rodes's,  and 
E.  Johnson's  divisions. 

The  first  ( Longstreet' s)  was  of  Hood's,  McLaws's 
and  Pickett's  divisions. 

Suitable  artillery  details  were  made  to  meet  these 
changes,  which  went  in  effect  smoothly  and  effectively. 

On  the  cavalry,  special  care  was  bestowed.  It  had 
been  heavily  strengthened  and  much  improved  by  selec- 
tions of  men  and  horses.  For  some  time,  during  inac- 
tion, they  had  been  getting  good  forage  and  pasturage. 
Now,  when  the  time  was  near  for  the  use  of  this  for- 
midable arm  under  Stuart,  its  able  and  famous  leader, 
it  was  ready  for  the  Commander-in-Chief. 

What  irony  of  fate  that  the  great  approaching  cam- 
paign should  be  fought  and  lost  without  that  bold 
leader  and  his  riders  being  at  Lee's  touch,  when  indeed 
he  wanted  them,  bitterly  missing  having  Stuart  and 
his  great  body  of  unsurpassed  horse  near  by  him. 

The  activity  of  preparation  went  through  all  depart- 
ments —  Quartermaster's,  Subsistence,  Ordnance,  and 
Medical.  It  could  be  guessed  that  the  military  opera- 
tions would  be  of  great  severity  and  exaction  and  it 
behooved  all  officers  of  supply  to  be  ready;  to  fail 
would  be  fatal. 

The  cavalry  were  assembled  under  Stuart  in  North- 
ern Virginia,  on  lands  growing  richer  and  richer  in 
grass  with  the  advancing  weeks.  It  was  a  magnificent 
day,  befitting  the  superb  body  of  cavalry  that,  under 


158  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  A 

Stuart,  marched  rapidly  in  review  before  the  Com- 
mander-in-Chief.  A  sight  it  was  not  soon  to  be  for- 
gotten. The  utmost  order  prevailed.  There  could  be 
no  doubt  that  the  cavalry  was  as  ready  for  the  work 
before  us  as  was  our  matchless  infantry. 

Longstreet  sent  for  his  favorite  scout,  Harrison. 
His  instructions  were  to  proceed  into  the  enemy's 
lines,  where  he  was  to  stay  until  the  last  part  of  June. 
Then  he  was  to  report  to  General  Longstreet,  it  was 
hoped,  with  the  amplest  and  most  accurate  informa- 
tion. "  Where  shall  I  find  you,  General,  to  make  this 
report  ?  "  asked  Harrison.  "  With  the  army,"  was 
Longstreet's  grim  answer ;  "  I  shall  be  sure  to  be  with 
it."  He  was  very  far  from  giving  even  to  his  trusted 
scout  information  as  to  his  movements.  But  Harrison 
knew  all  the  same;  he  knew  pretty  much  everything 
that  was  going  on. 

The  operation  now  performed  by  General  Lee  was 
intricate,  of  much  delicacy  and  hazard.  It  was  to 
move  from  his  position  in  front  of  Hooker  without 
exposing  any  part  of  his  forces,  or  Richmond,  to  be  at- 
tacked in  detail,  and  this  important  part  of  the  grand 
maneuver  was  left  to  Longstreet  and  his  corps,  with 
the  cavalry  in  communication. 

The  corps  of  Ewell  (formerly  Jackson's)  and  A.  P. 
Hill  were  sent  ahead  by  easy  marches,  keeping  a  cer- 
tain distant  touch  with  Longstreet.  The  mountain 
gaps  were  filled  with  Stuart's  cavalry  and  the  enemy 
held  in  close  observation.  All  went  well.  Hooker 
made  no  attempt  to  follow.  Lee  moved  toward  Wash- 
ington leisurely,  as  if  to  meet  him  there  later. 

Stuart's  part  with  his  cavalry  was  now  most  impor- 
tant. It  is  contended  by  some  that  Lee  left  it  finally 


CONFEDERATE  STAFF  OFFICER      159 

optional  for  him  to  decide  upon  his  movements. 
Whether  to  follow  the  army  by  crossing  the  river  in 
the  west  of  the  ridge  or  by  one  of  the  lower  fords.  In 
the  latter  event  it  was,  as  it  proved,  to  lose  Lee  and 
leave  him  without  his  strong  arm  in  an  enemy's  coun- 
try. It  has  been  attempted  to  show  also  that  the  order 
by  which  Stuart  moved  came  from.Longstreet.  But 
this  must  be  dismissed;  positive  information  to  the 
contrary  being  at  hand.  Surprising  to  say,  it  now  ap- 
pears that  Stuart  left  the  army  with  his  fine  command 
and  started  on  his  too  fascinating  raid,  not  only  by  his 
own  preference,  but  actually  in  violation  of  Lee's 
orders,  which  failed  to  reach  him.  All  doubt  had 
passed  from  Lee's  mind  and  he  had  ordered  Stuart  to 
keep  with  him.  The  latter  was  raiding,  and  Lee's 
campaign  was  lost. 

Major  McClellan,  Stuart's  A.  A.  G.  and  chief  of 
staff,  in  his  history  of  that  cavalry  (an  excellent  work) 
declares  that  in  his  opinion  the  absence  of  Stuart  was 
the  cause  of  Lee's  trouble ;  and  for  myself  I  have  never 
doubted  it.  It  is  not  to  be  supposed  that  no  cavalry 
whatever  was  left  with  the  army.  Stuart's  defenders 
have  taken  pains  to  point  that  out.  There  was  a 
squadron  or  two,  here  and  there,  a  regiment  at  one 
place,  and  a  brigade  under  an  efficient  commander  left 
in  the  rear.  But  these  separate  little  commands 
amounted  to  nothing.  It  was  the  great  body  of  that 
splendid  horse  under  their  leader  Stuart  that  Lee 
wanted.  He  was  the  eyes  and  ears  and  strong  right 
arm  of  the  commander,  and  well  may  he  have  missed 
him.  All  through  the  marches  he  showed  it. 

Stuart  was  on  a  useless,  showy  parade  almost  under 
the  guns  of  the  Washington  forts,  and  his  horse,  laurel- 


160  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  A 

wreathed,  bore  the  gay  rider  on  amid  songs  and  stories. 
He  had  some  opposition,  of  course,  and  had  a  share  of 
fighting  in  Ashby's  Gap  and  the  plain  on  the  east. 

When  he  rejoined  Lee  it  was  with  exhausted  horses 
and  half  worn-out  men  in  the  closing  hours  of  Gettys- 
burg. 

Had  he  been  with  Lee  where  would  our  commander 
have  made  his  battle?  Possibly,  not  on  that  unfavor- 
able ground  of  Gettysburg.  Lee  with  his  personally 
weak  opponent,  and  Stuart  by  him,  could  almost  have 
chosen  the  spot  where  he  would  be  sure  to  defeat  the 
Union  Army. 

This,  however,  somewhat  anticipates;  going  back 
we  find  our  three  corps  with  their  military  pushed 
across  the  river  with  energy.  The  Second  (Ewell's), 
the  Third  (A.  P.  Hill's),  and  Longstreet  last.  All  in- 
fantry and  artillery  across,  leaving  only  about  a  brigade 
of  cavalry  on  the  south  side.  The  enemy  for  some 
days  had  quite  disappeared  from  our  observations. 
The  march  proceeded  through  Maryland  and  Pennsyl- 
vania in  good  form,  General  Lee's  orders  against 
depredations  being  most  peremptory.  At  Chambers- 
burg  a  halt  was  made  over  Sunday  and  our  corps  had 
the  place  well  guarded  and  protected  from  plunder  by 
loose  bodies  of  men.  Our  chief  commissary,  Moses, 
made  a  forced  requisition  and  got  some  supplies  and 
necessaries,  not  very  much. 

At  night  I  was  roused  by  a  detail  of  the  provost 
guard  bringing  up  a  suspicious  prisoner.  I  knew  him 
instantly ;  it  was  Harrison,  the  scout,  filthy  and  ragged, 
showing  some  rough  work  and  exposure.  He  had 
come  to  "  Report  to  the  General,  who  was  sure  to  be 
with  the  army,"  and  truly  his  report  was  long  and  valu- 
able. I  should  here  say  that  in  every  respect  it  was 


CONFEDERATE  STAFF  OFFICER      161 

afterwards  fully  confirmed  by  events  and  facts.  Har- 
rison gave  us  the  first  complete  account  of  the  opera- 
tions of  the  enemy  since  Hooker  left  our  front.  He 
brought  his  report  down  to  a  day  or  two,  and  described 
how  they  were  even  then  marching  in  great  numbers  in 
the  direction  of  Gettysburg,  with  intention  apparently 
of  concentrating  there.  He  also  informed  us  of  the 
removal  of  Hooker  and  the  appointment  of  George 
Meade  to  command  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac. 
How  many  commanders  had  Lee  made  for  that  army ! 
Harrison's  report  was  so  exceedingly  important  that  I 
took  him  at  once  with  me,  and  woke  Longstreet.  He 
was  immediately  on  fire  at  such  news  and  sent  the  scout 
by  a  stflff  officer  to  General  Lee's  camp  near  by.  The 
General  heard  him  with  great  composure  and  minute- 
ness. It  was  on  this,  the  report  of  a  single  scout,  in 
the  absence  of  cavalry,  that  the  army  moved.  Impor- 
tant as  was  the  change,  the  commanding  General  was 
not  long  in  deciding.  He  sent  orders  to  bring  Ewell 
immediately  back  from  the  North  about  Harrisburg, 
and  join  his  left.  Then  he  started  A.  P.  Hill  off  at 
sunrise  for  Gettysburg,  followed  by  Longstreet.  The 
enemy  was  there,  and  there  our  General  would  strike 
him. 

The  march  was  much  impeded  by  too  many  troops 
and  trains  on  one  road  and  Ewell's  men  breaking  in 
on  the  route  next  day  to  get  to  their  position. 

The  army  thus  moved  forward,  and  A.  P.  Hill  lead- 
ing, struck  the  enemy  near,  and  in,  the  town  of  Gettys- 
burg sharply  on  the  afternoon  of  July  I.  We  were 
following  some  little  distance  in  the  rear,  and  heard  the 
lively  fire  of  cannon  and  rifles,  and  soon  after  got  the 
news  of  Hill's  and  Ewell's  decided  success  in  an  im- 
portant preliminary  engagement.  Many  prisoners  and 


162      CONFEDERATE  STAFF  OFFICER 

much  material  remained  with  the  Confederates.  This 
stimulated  every  one  forward,  and  Ewell  taking  posi- 
tion on  our  left,  we  were  all  snugly  in  bivouac  at  a 
good  hour,  with  Longstreet's  two  divisions,  McLaws 
and  Hood,  about  four  miles  in  rear,  but  ready  for 
movement  next  day.  Pickett  had  been  doing  guard 
duty  at  Chambersburg  and  was  not  yet  up,  but  would 
be  in  the  morning.  The  serious  mishap  of  the  day  was 
Ewell's  failure  to  seize  the  heights  on  the  left.  Gen- 
eral Lee  expected  it  of  him,  and  we  know  of  no  im- 
pediment. 


CHAPTER  XXI 
BATTLE  OF  GETTYSBURG,  JULY  i,  2,  3,  1863 

Expectation  of  revelations  —  Longstreet  and  Lee  —  Attacks  not 
in  good  combination  between  the  three  corps  —  July  2,  sit- 
uation unfavorable  —  Our  heavy  attack  on  the  right  — 
Ground  and  guns  taken  —  Round  Top  reinforced  checks  us 
—  Longstreet  leads  —  Hood  and  Longstreet  —  Am  slightly 
wounded  —  Lieutenant-Colonel  Freemantle,  Coldstream 
Guards  —  Captain  Ross,  Austrian  Army  —  July  3,  necessity 
of  a  stroke  —  Pickett's  charge  —  His  repulse  —  Lee's  noble 
encouragements  —  July  4,  not  attacked  —  Holding  ground  — 
Withdrawal  at  night  —  The  retreat,  and  passage  of  the  river. 

On  the  tremendous  and  decisive  battle  of  Gettysburg, 
now  about  to  engage  the  two  armies,  more  has  prob- 
ably been  written  than  on  any  battle  since  Waterloo. 
There  seems  to  be  a  feeling  abroad  that  great  secrets 
explaining  why  we  were  beaten  are  yet  to  be  told  arid 
that  they  are  locked  up  in  the  breasts  of  a  few  men, 
one  of  them  the  present  writer,  Longstreet's  chief  of 
staff.  There  is  absolutely  nothing  in  that  expectation ; 
no  living  man  knows  more  about  the  battle  than  has 
already  been  written. 

Lee  has  made  his  report.  Longstreet  has  written  a 
book  and  said  his  say.  The  staff  has  little  or  nothing 
to  add.  Communications  were  in  the  main  between 
Lee  and  Longstreet,  verbally,  or  occasionally  by  note 
direct. 

The  story  has  been  in  part  told  by  Longstreet.  We 
can  discover  that  he  did  not  want  to  fight  on  the  ground 
or  on  the  plan  adopted  by  the  General-in-Chief.  As 
Longstreet  was  not  to  be  made  willing  and  Lee  re- 

163 


164  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  A 

fused  to  change  or  could  not  change,  the  former  failed 

to  conceal  some  anger.     There  was  apparent  apathy  in 

his  movements.     They  lacked  the  fire  and  point  of  his 

usual  bearing  on  the  battlefield.     His  plans  may  have 

been  better  than  Lee's,  but  it  was  too  late  to  alter  them 

5  with  the  troops   ready  to   open   fire  on   each   other. 

JEwell  on  the  left,  A.  P.  Hill  and  Longstreet  on  the 

/right,  seemed  never  able  to  work  together,  and  I  can 

*  well  imagine  the  great  soul  of  our  Commander  deeply 

furrowed  with  the  difficulties  about  him  and  what  was 

going  on  to  the  disadvantage  of  the  army.     This  is  all 

I  shall  permit  myself  to  express  on  this  well-worn  but 

ever  interesting  subject.     One  can  build  many  theories, 

but  theories  only  will  they  be;  besides,  my  opinion  is  | 

already  given  that  the  loss  of  the  campaign-was  due  to   } 

the  absence  of  Stuart's  cavalry. 

I  proceed  to  jot  down  idly  some  "  choses  vues  "of 
the  military  events  and  incidents  of  the  three  great 
days  of  this  remarkable  historic  battle  and  the  days 
immediately  about  it. 

The  situation  on  the  morning  of  the  2nd  was  far 
from  favorable  to  us.  First  of  all,  our  position,  com- 
pared with  the  enemy's,  was  not  good.  It  may  be  said 
to  have  been  decidedly  inferior.  We  were  the  outer 
line,  he  held  the  inner.  We  were  the  cord  to  the  arc 
on  which  his  heavy  columns  were  massed.  True,  there 
were  some  positions  on  the  left  that  were  in  Swell's 
possession  and  could  be  well  used.  Round  Top  and 
his  high  shoulders  were  on  our  right,  and  held  by  us 
would  be  everything.  This  Lee  quickly  saw  and  tried 
for.  They  made  the  key  for  the  position,  and  with  it 
dangling  at  our  girdle  the  lock  would  have  yielded  and 
the  door  opened.  But  we  were  too  late  on  our  right. 
An  attack,  powerful  indeed,  at  4  p.  m.  was  quite  differ- 


CONFEDERATE  STAFF  OFFICER      165 

ent  from  the  commanding  General's  expectation  of  one 
in  the  forenoon. 

Late  on  the  first,  and  early  on  the  second,  Hill  and 
Ewell  were  heavily  engaged  with  apparently  no  satis- 
factory results. 

On  the  second,  quite  late,  4  p.  m.,  Longstreet  made 
his  long-deferred  attack  on  the  enemy's  left.  It  was 
done  in  smashing  style  by  McLaws's  and  Hood's  divi- 
sions and  a  few  of  Hill's  troops,  Longstreet  personally 
leading  the  attack  with  splendid  effect. 

His  fine  horsemanship  as  he  rode,  hat  in  hand,  and 
martial  figure,  were  most  inspiring. 

We  gained  ground  rapidly  and  almost  carried  Round 
Top,  but  the  morning  delay  was  fatal.  It  had  been 
heavily  reinforced  while  we  were  pottering  around  in 
sullen  inactivity.  Undoubtedly  Lee's  intention  was  to 
make  the  attack  in  the  forenoon  and  support  it  with 
strong  movements  by  Hill  and  Ewell.  I  think  it  would 
have  won,  notwithstanding  the  difficulties  of  the  posi- 
tion. The  attempt  was  made  to  move  the  troops  to  the 
right  into  position  without  discovery  by  the  enemy,  but 
it  was  abortive. 

We  were  seen  from  the  start  and  signaled  con- 
stantly. Much  valuable  time  was  lost  by  this  trial, 
which  with  better  knowledge  of  the  ground  by  General 
Lee's  engineers  would  not  have  been  attempted. 

At  nightfall  the  combat  was  over  and  we  were  drag- 
ging off  our  captured  cannon  and  standards,  and  car- 
ing for  our  dead  and  wounded. 

The  loss  in  storming  the  position  on  the  right  was 
heavy.  When  Hood's  division  was  across  the  turn- 
pike, under  orders  to  attack,  he  begged  me  to  look  at 
it,  report  its  extreme  difficulty,  and  implore  Longstreet 
to  make  the  attack  another  way.  This  was  done,  but 


166  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  A 

the  answer  I  took  to  Hood  was  that  the  attack  must  in- 
stantly be  made,  that  General  Lee  had  so  directed ;  and 
forward  and  upward  the  gallant  Hood  charged,  almost 
gaining  the  plateau  of  Round  Top,  the  key  of  the 
enemy's  left. 

The  staff  had  been  hard  at  work  day  and  night,  and 
my  exhausted  frame  found  rest  that  night  in  the  snug- 
gest fence  corner  in  sight.  The  ground  to  weary  bones 
felt  as  good  as  a  feather  bed.  In  addition,  I  had  been 
suffering  from  a  painful  but  not  serious  wound.  Rid- 
ing with  Bearing's  artillery  late  in  the  afternoon,  while 
exchanging  some  shots,  a  shrapnel  burst  directly  over 
us,  one  of  the  large  projectiles  striking  me  on  the  right 
arm  near  the  shoulder.  It  was  not  broken  or  pierced, 
paralyzed  for  use  for  at  least  ten  days,  and  quite  black 
down  to  the  wrist.  Painful,  of  course,  it  was,  but  a 
small  matter  where  there  was  so  much  death  and 
mangling. 

On  the  march  through  Virginia  we  had  received  a 
delightful  acquisition  to  our  headquarters  party,  in 
Lieutenant-Colonel  Freemantle,  of  the  Coldstream 
Guards. 

He  had  entered  the  Confederacy  on  a  visit  of  obser- 
vation, well  fortified  with  credentials  from  his  own 
government,  and,  traveling  through  all  the  Confederate 
States,  had  arrived  in  Richmond  just  in  time  to  join 
Lee's  army  in  its  invasion  of  Pennsylvania. 

With  good  letters  of  introduction  he  had  been  sent 
to  us  and  there  could  not  be  a  finer  fellow.  He 
roughed  it  with  the  hardest,  and  took  everything  as  it 
came.  A  quick,  observant  eye  and  indefatigable  sight- 
seer, apparently  nothing  escaped  him.  When  the  cam- 
paign was  ended  and  the  Confederates  making  their 
way  back  to  Virginia,  Freemantle  said  his  farewells  and 


CONFEDERATE  STAFF  OFFICER      167 

made  the  best  of  his  way  to  New  York,  whence  he  im- 
mediately took  steamer  for  England.  There  he  pub- 
lished an  entertaining  little  book,  "  Three  Months  in 
the  Southern  States,"  which  was  later  reproduced  by  a 
worn-out,  decrepit  old  press  at  Mobile,  a  copy  of  the 
issue  being  now  a  great  rarity.  Freemantle  had  met 
Southern  men  of  all  kinds,  and  his  book  has  many  pen 
pictures  by  this  fine  officer  and  friend  of  ours.  His 
regiment  a  corps  d'elite,  soon  sent  him  to  the  staff, 
where  he  distinguished  himself,  and  successively  ob- 
tained rank  as  major-general,  lieutenant-general,  and 
general,  with  several  military  orders  of  coveted  distinc- 
tion. He  is  now  Sir  Arthur  Lyon-Freemantle,  K.  C. 
M.  G.,1  and  of  other  good-service  orders.  He  com- 
manded the  brigade  of  guards  in  Egypt,  and  has  just 
finished  (about  retiring)  his  four  years'  tour  of  duty 
as  Governor  of  Malta,  one  of  the  greatest  of  the  Brit- 
ish military  posts.  He  is  delightful  to  every  Con- 
federate he  can  put  his  hands  upon. 

There  was  another  foreign  officer  with  us  at  this 
time,  and  for  some  months  later,  Captain  Fitzgerald 
Ross,  very  Scotch  as  to  name,  but  Austrian  to  the 
core.  He  came  of  one  of  those  military  Scotch  or 
north  of  Ireland  families  that  centuries  ago  settled  in 
many  parts  of  Europe  and  generally  rose  to  distinction. 

On  the  morning  of  July  3,  it  was  apparent  that  a 
great  blow  must  be  delivered  to  Meade's  army.  He 
could  not  be  persuaded  to  leave  his  formidable  posi- 
tions and  instruments  and  attack  us,  and  Lee  could 
not  retreat  without  another  effort,  indecisive  as  had 
been  those  of  the  2d.  Our  General,  as  has  been  said, 
.did  not  mind  blood  when  it  had  to  be  shed.  It  is  the 
soldier's  calling.  Here  was  a  case  in  point :  His 
1  Sir  Lyon-Freemantle  has  since  died. 


1 68  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  A 

army  and  trains  could  only  be  saved  by  a  tremendous 
strike  straight  at  the  enemy.  The  time  for  maneuver- 
ing had  passed  and  he  prepared  for  what  was  before 
him.  He  believed  his  troops  could  do  what  he  asked 
of  them;  never  yet  had  they  failed  him. 

The  attack  was  to  be  made  as  soon  as  possible,  under 
direction  of  Lee's  "  War  Horse,"  that  stout  warrior 
James  Longstreet,  with  three  brigades  of  Pickett's  di- 
vision (right),  Heth's  division  of  Hill's  corps  (left), 
with  supports  of  several  brigades  of  other  divisions 
thrown  into  position.  » 

An  artillery  "  feu  d'enfer "  was  to  precede  the 
attack,  directed  by  E.  P.  Alexander,-  who  was  to  give 
the  signal  when  in  his  judgment  the  artillery  had 
made  the  greatest  impression,  and  then  the  troops 
were  to  move  instantly  across  the  wide,  lead-swept 
plain,  against  the  heavy  masses  of  blue  on  the  crest 
of  the  heights.  All  this  was  done  at  about  2  o'clock, 
Longstreet  accepting  Alexander's  signal  message 
with  dejection,  it  seemed.  Indeed,  the  delay  in  at- 
tacking which  undoubtedly  hurt  us  was  apparently 
caused  by  his  objections  made  known  to  the  Com- 
mander-in-Chief,  but  of  course  all  this  is  set  out  from 
that  standpoint  in  Longstreet's  own  book. 

It  was  soon  over.  Pickett's  men  got  far  up  the 
acclivity  and  many  were  soon  among  the  enemy. 
There  was,  however,  some  wavering  on  our  left, 
which  weakened  us,  and  we  broke,  tearing  back  pell- 
mell  torn  by  shot  and  shell  across  the  width  of  that 
bloody  plain,  a  sight  never  before  witnessed  —  part 
of  the  Army  of  Northern  Virginia  in  full,  breathless 
flight. 

But  there  was  no  pursuit  and  the  run  soon  stopped. 


CONFEDERATE  STAFF  OFFICER      169 

The  soldiers  got  together,  picked  up  arms,  and  in  a 
short  time  were  ready  for  another  combat. 

If  there  was  repulse  and  its  usual  result,  a  quick 
flight  for  cover,  there  was  also  something  else.  A 
charge  that,  considering  the  difficulties  of  position, 
comparison  of  numbers,  was  so  steady  to  the  objec- 
tive point,  and  so  near  success  as  to  make  it  one  of 
the  greatest  feats  of  arms  in  all  the  annals  of  war. 
Every  brigade  commander  and  colonel  and  lieuten- 
ant-colonel of  Pickett's  division  was  shot  down. 
The  brave  Armistead  and  Garnett  at  the  head  of 
their  brigades  fell  inside  the  enemy's  parapet,  and 
the  gallant  Kemper,  hard  hit  and  left  for  dead,  lay 
with  the  men  of  his  leading  line.  To-day,  the  detail 
of  the  great  charge,  not  as  barely  hinted  at  here, 
but  as  described  in  full  with  ample  particulars, 
mounts  one's  blood,  stirs  all  hearts  with  deep  tragedy 
and  pride.  Well  do  we  know  that  amid  all  things 
to  happen,  the  memory  of  Pickett's  charge  will  for- 
ever live  in  song  and  story  of  that  fair  land  for  which 
the  Southern  soldier  poured  out  his  blood  like  water. 

While  Longstreet  by  no  means  approved  the  move- 
ment, his  soldierly  eye  watched  every  feature  of  it. 
He  neglected  nothing  that  could  help  it  and  his  anxiety 
for  Pickett  and  the  men  was  very  apparent. 

Fearing  some  flank  attacks  if  we  succeeded,  he 
had  sent  Latrobe  to  the  left  to  warn  the  officer 
against  its  possibility.  I  went  sharply  off  in  search 
of  Pickett  to  watch  his  right  and  if  necessary  move 
some  troops  in  for  meeting  such  an  attempt.  I  did 
not  meet  with  General  Pickett  and  was  soon  up  with 
Garnett  and  Armistead.  The  former  was  ill  that 
morning,  but  was  at  the  head  of  his  men  where  he 


1 70  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  A 

was  to  fall.  Just  here  a  shell  burst  under  my  horse 
(my  best),  a  splendid  chestnut  mare,  and  down  she 
came,  both  hind  legs  off.  I  luckily  got  another  from 
a  mounted  man  near  by,  who  rather  ruefully  gave 
up  his  horse  and  saved  my  saddle  for  me.  Latrobe 
also  had  his  horse  killed  over  on  the  left;  other  staff 
officers  were  also  sent  forward  with  the  troops  and 
shared  in  the  charge." 

General  Lee's  extreme  agitation  when  he  wit- 
nessed the  repulse  and  race  of  our  men  for  cover 
from  that  murderous  fire  has  not  been  exaggerated 
in  the  prints.  The  noble  soul  was  stirred  to  its  in- 
most depths  at  the  sight  of  the  awful  and  fruitless 
sacrifices  his  men  had  made  at  his  command.  His 
generous  heart  could  only  say,  "  It  is  my  fault,  I 
take  it  all  —  get  together,  men,  we  shall  yet  beat 
them."  I  saw  no  man  fail  him. 

It  was  on  July  3  that  a  mail  from  the  Department 
at  Richmond  brought  my  commission  as  lieutenant- 
colonel,  A.  A.  G.  Latrobe's  and  Fairfax's,  as  in- 
spectors, came  along  a  few  days  later. 

Notwithstanding  our  great  losses  of  the  second  and 
third,  we  were  permitted  to  hold  the  field  on  the 
fourth  by  Meade's  inactivity.  His  army  was  very 
strong,  had  not  suffered  as  had  ours,  and  an  enter- 
prising general  might  seemingly  have  had  us  on  the 
run  in  short  order. 

But  no!  he  had  taken  a  taste  of  our  mettle  the 
day  before  and  wanted  no  more  of  it.  A  bridge  of 
gold  for  his  enemy  was  the  card  for  Meade's  hands. 
It  is  said  on  good  authority  that  at  a  council  called 
by  Meade  he  was  in  favor  of  retiring,  and  it  was 
only  by  strenuous,  bold  opposition  of  two  or  three  of 


CONFEDERATE  STAFF  OFFICER      171 

his  generals  that  he  was  prevented  and  induced  to 
keep  his  ground. 

Thus  during  all  the  fourth  we  were  in  preparation 
for  the  rear  movement  that  must  begin  that  night. 
Lee's  position  had  become  serious,  but  undismayed 
were  the  Confederate  Chief  and  his  three  corps  com- 
manders. He  knew  he  could  count  on  their  tried 
courage  and  experience. 

The  night  of  July  4,  1863,  was  of  awful  weather 
—  rain  in  torrents,  howling  winds,  and  roads  almost 
impassable ;  all  trains  had  been  sent  back  during  the 
day,  as  well  as  the  reserve  artillery.  At  night  artil- 
lery in  position  and  pickets  were  withdrawn  and  the 
army  moved  back  by  its  left  —  Ewell,  Hill,  and  Long- 
street.  It  marched  all  night  and  part  of  next  day, 
and  then  Lee  with  characteristic  audacity  selected  a 
line  of  defense,  entrenched  and  fortified  it,  and  of- 
fered Meade  battle  for  several  days,  while  his  im- 
mense trains  were  safely  crossing  the  Potomac. 
Meade  declined  the  challenge,  and  Lee  resuming  the 
retreat,  crossed  on  the  bridge  of  boats  that  had  been 
thrown  over  the  river  at  Falling  Waters  by  the  engi- 
neers —  and  a  crazy  affair  it  was,  too. 

Our  corps  was  all  night  crossing,  and  at  dawn  I 
was  able  to  approach  General  Lee  on  the  south  bank, 
"  tete  de  pont,"  with  a  report  to  that  effect,  adding 
that  now  everything  was  clear  for  General  Hill*s  in- 
fantry. The  General's  anxiety  was  intense.  He  ex- 
pected to  be  attacked  at  the  passage  of  the  river. 
There  was  good  reason  to  fear;  why  Meade  failed 
to  do  so  is  yet  to  be  explained.  General  Lee,  like 
every  one,  had  been  up  the  whole  night,  and  his 
staff  officers  were  stretched  in  sleep  on  the  ground. 


172      CONFEDERATE  STAFF  OFFICER 

He  desired  me  to  recross  the  bridge  for  him,  see 
General  Hill  in  person,  and  urge  him  to  the  utmost 
haste  in  getting  his  men  over,  stopping  only  when 
imperatively  necessary. 

I  immediately  pushed  back,  finding  the  road  deep 
in  mud  but  clear  of  any  impediment  to  the  men. 
Broken  wagons  or  a  dismounted  gun  or  two  had  been 
cleared  away  and  thrown  one  side.  General  Lee's 
message  was  given  and  Hill  asked  me  to  assure  the 
Commander  that  he  should  safely  get  across,  not- 
withstanding a  slight  attack  that  was  even  then  de- 
veloping itself  on  his  rear  brigade  —  Pettigrew's. 
Some  men  were  captured,  but  we  suffered  most  loss 
in  the  death  of  that  promising  officer. 

Returning,  I  reported  to  the  General  that  "  all  was 
clear.  Hill  was  about  three-quarters  of  a  mile  from 
the  bridge  and  marching  rapidly  to  it."  "  What  was 
his  leading  division?  "  I  was  asked.  "  General  Ander- 
son, sir."  "  I  am  sorry,  Colonel ;  my  friend  Dick 
is  quick  enough  pursuing,  but  in  retreat  I  fear  he 
will  not  be  as  sharp  as  I  should  like."  Just  then 
a  heavy  gun  was  fired  lower  down,  filling  the  gorge 
of  the  river  with  most  threatening  echoes.  "  There," 
said  the  General,  "  I  was  expecting  it,  the  beginning 
of  the  attack."  But  he  was  wrong.  The  enemy 
made  no  further  demonstration  and  Hill  came  safely 
across.  Our  corps  had  found  camp  some  ten  miles 
south  of  the  river  and  there  I  soon  threw  myself 
down  for  rest  and  food.  After  a  week  of  the  most 
exhausting  physical  and  mental  trial  it  was  indeed 
time  for  some  repose. 


CHAPTER  XXII 
GETTYSBURG  AFTERMATH 

Retrospective  —  Invasion  of  Pennsylvania  —  Some  characteris- 
tics —  Pickett  and  perfumery  —  An  acquisition  —  The  inhab- 
itants, Pennsylvania  Dutch  —  Their  cookery  —  Colonel  Free- 
mantle's  activity  —  Figures  as  to  strength  and  losses  —  Lieu- 
tenant Dawson  —  A  curious  meeting  — The  sweating  soldier 
—  Death  of  Captain  Fraser. 

The  invasion  of  Pennsylvania  had  many  features 
of  interest  to  our  army.  The  country  itself  contrasted 
greatly  with  our  own.  It  was  rolling  in  plenty,  high 
cultivation  was  apparent  on  all  sides,  and  the  ripen- 
ing wheat  stood  tall  and  golden.  General  Lee's 
orders  caused  it  to  be  well  protected,  and  there  was 
not  much  looting.  The  people  seemed  a  queer  lot. 
Hostile  looks  and  imprecations  were  constantly  leveled 
at  the  good-natured  Southerners  footing  it  amid  such 
new  scenes.  The  cherries  were  ripe  and  the  trees 
bending  with  delicious  fruit.  I  recall  one  especial 
tree  near  Chambersburg  that  seemed  beyond  all  others 
to  tempt  me.  Sitting  quietly  in  saddle,  branch  after 
branch  was  gently  drawn  down  to  the  rider's  thirsty 
lips  almost  to  repletion,  and  good  is  the  recollection 
even  to  this  present  day.  The  roads  were  magnificent 
in  our  eyes  —  metaled  macadams,  bearing  the  heaviest 
loads,  and  well  drained  and  graded.  The  animals 
were  nearly  all  for  farm  use,  great  lumbering,  power- 
ful horses,  capable  of  enormous  draughts  on  those 
hard  roads,  but  quite  impossible  to  do  anything  out 
of  a  heavy  walk.  We  thought  to  renew  some  of  our 

173 


174  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  A 

quartermaster's  and  cavalry  mounts  from  this  source 
and  a  few  horses  were  got  across  the  river.  They 
proved  useless  and  were  soon  abandoned.  As  we 
marched,  the  people  were  drawn  to  the  roadside  ar- 
rayed in  their  Sunday  best,  gazing  viciously  at  the 
invaders.  All  work  in  town  and  country  had  stopped. 
Chambersburg  being  quite  a  town,  was  subject  to  req- 
uisition, which  did  not,  I  think,  yield  much. 
i  We  "  persuaded,"  however,  the  principal  shop- 
keepers to  keep  open,  and  they  displayed  some  of 
their  wares,  doubtless  old  or  unsalable  stuff  that  they 
could  not  hide.  Everything  was  strictly  paid  for  in 
our  national  currency  —  Confederate  bills ! 

I  did  get  something,  however.  Our  good  com- 
missary, Major  Moses,  managed  to  secure  (by  pay- 
ment, of  course)  a  bolt  of  excellent  velveteen,  wear- 
ing quite  as  well  as  corduroy.  Indeed,  he  got  some 
of  the  latter  also,  and  sent  the  plunder  to  our  head- 
quarters, where  the  stuff  went  around  sufficiently 
to  give  me  a  coat  and  trousers,  which  did  good  ser- 
vice, I  think,  till  the  end  of  things.  He  also  man- 
aged to  get  a  few  felt  hats,  and  deserved  more,  for 
he  was  grumbling  furiously  at  the  ill  success  of  his 
important  requisition  for  cash,  stores,  and  army  sup- 
plies; also  for  the  sound  rating  and  liberal  abuse 
he  had  taken  from  the  irate  females  in  furious  rage 
at  his  work. 

Lee  and  Longstreet  were  bivouacked  near  by  in  a 
beautiful  grove  of  large  trees  not  far  from  town. 
They  both  had  many  visits  from  citizens,  generally 
with  some  trumped-up  complaint  as  a  means  of  see- 
ing the  two  celebrated  soldiers. 

The  women  of  the  country  were  a  hard-featured 
lot.  The  population,  principally  Pennsylvania  Dutch. 


CONFEDERATE  STAFF  OFFICER      175 

are  an  ignorant  offshoot  of  a  certain  class  of  Ger- 
mans long  settled  there. 

Many  can  speak  no  English.  A  hard-working, 
thrifty  class,  with,  it  seems,  no  thought  but  for  their 
big  horses  and  barns,  huge  road-wagons  like  ships 
at  sea,  and  the  weekly  baking,  and  apple-butter. 
This  last  appeared  to  be  their  staple  food.  On  the 
morning  of  the  3d,  already  mentioned,  waking  in 
my  fences-corner,  I  took  thought  of  breakfast  and 
sent  my  man  to  an  abandoned  farm-house  near  by. 
The  terrible  shell  and  musketry  fire  of  the  previous 
day  had  driven  off  the  owners  hurriedly,  for  safety. 
But  here  was  food  galore.  My  soldier  came  back 
loaded  with  loaves  of  well-baked  bread  and  jars  of 
apple-butter  —  a  week's  baking  of  the  bread,  and  the 
abominable  butter  once  a  year,  I  suppose.  It  did 
for  once  or  so  when  very  hungry,  but  I  don't  call  it 
a  nice  breakfast  anywhere. 

The  drain  of  war  had  not  here  shown  itself  —  none 
of  the  men  out  of  this  populous  region  seemed  to 
have  gone  to  the  front.  There  was  no  need.  The 
Government,  the  State,  counties,  towns,  and  villages 
were  all  paying  great  bounties  for  the  substitutes. 
The  drafted  man  was  serving  at  home,  and  there 
was  joy  at  so  much  money  among  the  foreign  mer- 
cenaries brought  over  by  the  rich  Northern  and  East- 
ern States,  and  among  the  ever-present  and  agile 
bounty- jumpers,  who  were  indeed  making  their  golden 
harvest. 

Our  British  friend,  Colonel  Freemantle,  was  bound 
to  see  everything.  During  one  of  the  hottest  hours 
of  fire  he  climbed  a  tree  with  great  agility,  and  not- 
withstanding I  bawled  to  him  to  come  down,  there 
he  stuck  with  his  binoculars.  He  was  a  very  small, 


176  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  A 

slight  man,  wiry,  and  much  enduring.  I  don't  be- 
lieve he  changed  his  clothing  or  boots  while  with  us, 
and  I  never  saw  him  use  a  note-book  or  any  scrap 
of  paper  as  an  aid  to  memory,  and  yet  his  book  puts 
down  things  with  much  accuracy. 

In  this  great  campaign  and  battle  the  numbers  and 
casualties  and  lists  may  be  fairly  accepted  as  follows: 
Col.  W.  H.  Taylor's  figures  as  to  strength  —  Army 
of  the  Potomac,  of  all  arms,  105,000;  Army  of  Nor- 
thern Virginia,  of  all  arms,  63,000  or  say  50,000 
infantry,  8,000  cavalry,  5,000  artillery. 

His  figures  are  about  right  as  to  the  Army  of 
Northern  Virginia.  They  would  be  verified  by  those 
of  our  own  corps. 

Confederate  losses,  2,292  killed;  12,709  wounded; 
5,150  missing. 

It  was  about  this  time  that  Lieut,  F.  W.  Dawson, 
C.  S.  Artillery,  reported  to  our  corps  for  duty.  A 
few  words  of  the  career  of  this  young  man  may  not 
be  without  interest.  He  was  an  Englishman  of  uni- 
versity education,  able  and  capable.  He  'had  come 
to  see  hard  service.  Colonel  Manning,  chief  of  ord- 
nance, wanting  some  assistance  at  that  time,  I  as- 
signed Dawson  to  do  duty  with  the  ordnance  train. 
He  was  thoroughly  competent,  and  made  himself  in- 
dispensable to  Manning,  whose  taste  took  him  more 
to  adventures  in  the  field.  Dawson  was  made  captain 
and  also  acquitted  himself  well  under  fire.  With  re- 
turn of  peace  I  lost  sight  of  him  until  a  year  or  two 
later  he  turned  up  as  the  able  and  aggressive  editor 
and  part  proprietor  of  a  leading  newspaper  of  Charles- 
ton, South  Carolina,  and  had  reason  to  call  for  my 
help  in  a  dangerous  crisis.  He  was  strongly  on  the 
respectable  white  side  in  the  dark  days  of  reconstruc- 


CONFEDERATE  STAFF  OFFICER      177 

tion,  was  bold  and  unflinching,  showed  extraordinary 
abilities,  made  many  friends,  married,  and  was  as- 
sassinated at  the  very  height  of  an  adventurous  career. 

This  is  curious  in  the  way  of  happenings.  It  has 
been  mentioned  that  the  soldier  who  passed  the  night 
at  Fredericksburg  with  me  inside  the  enemy's  lines 
was  Private  Jesse  Beall.  It  has  not  been  said, 
though,  that  my  staff  comrade  and  friend,  Manning, 
had  been  desperately  assailed,  stabbed  almost  to  death, 
by  a  fellow-student  at  the  Georgia  Military  Institute. 
Manning  recovered  after  long  care,  spoke  only  once, 
even  to  me,  of  what  had  happened,  and  then  with  a 
curious  tension  of  feature.  Another  time  we  were 
riding  together  across  fallow  fields  near  camp,  when 
a  soldier  came  out,  saluting  us,  and  asked  to  speak 
with  Colonel  Manning.  On  rejoining  me,  Manning's 
face  was  set  and  deathly  pale.  "  Sorrel,"  he  said, 
"  that  was  the  man  who  came  so  near  murdering  me. 
I  had  sworn  to  kill  him  on  sight,  and  it  was  all  I 
could  do  to  stop  myself  while  he  stood  by  my  horse. 
But  he  had  a  tale,  and  I  believed  him.  It  was  remorse 
and  horror  of  his  deed.  He  humbly  begged  my  for- 
giveness. Nothing  else  would  content  him,  and  I 
yielded  to  the  man's  suffering  and  evident  sincerity. 
I  gave  him  my  hand  in  parting,  but  never  do  I  wish 
to  see  him  again."  It  was  Jesse  Beall,  Manning's 
assailant,  and  my  man  of  the  batteau.  He  was  after- 
wards killed  in  battle. 

On  a  hot  day's  march  across  the  river,  General 
Lee,  Longstreet,  and  their  people  had  made  a  short 
midday  halt  in  a  little  rising  grove  by  the  roadside, 
where  we  found  a  spring  to  wash  down  our  soldier's 
fare.  It  was  the  hottest  of  July  days,  and  the  troops 
were  moving  by  in  long  column,  listlessly,  and  suf- 


1 78      CONFEDERATE  STAFF  OFFICER 

faring  from  the  heat.  Soon  I  saw  one  of  the  men 
leave  the  ranks  and  approach  General  Lee.  Some 
one  tried  to  stop  him,  but  the  General  kindly  en- 
couraged his  coming  forward.  He  was  a  stout, 
well-built  soldier,  equal  to  any  work,  but  sweating 
awfully.  "  What  is  it  you  want?  "  said  Lee.  "  Please, 
General,  I  don't  want  much,  but  it's  powerful  wet 
marching  this  weather.  I  can't  see  for  the  water  in 
my  eyes.  I  came  aside  to  this  old  hill  to  get  a  rag 
or  something  to  wipe  the  sweat  out  of  my  eyes." 
"  Will  this  do  ? "  said  the  General,  handkerchief  in 
hand.  "  Yes,  my  Lordy,  that  indeed !  "  broke  out  the 
soldier.  "  Well,  then  take  it  with  you,  and  back  quick 
to  ranks;  no  straggling  this  march,  you  know,  my 
man." 

Lee's  talk  and  manner  with  the  soldier  were  in- 
imitable in  their  encouraging  kindness.  It  is  only  a 
single  little  example 'of  what  he  was  with  them. 

At  Gettysburg,  on  the  3d,  I  lost  another  dear  per- 
sonal friend,  Captain  John  C.  Fraser,  of  Georgia, 
commanding  a  battery  of  artillery.  He  was  work- 
ing it  most  effectively  in  action  when  struck  down. 
Only  a  few  days  before  he  made  me  a  visit,  and 
noticing  his  very  bad  hat,  I  sent  him  off  rejoicing  in 
one  of  the  felts  Major  Moses  had  given  us.  Then 
it  pillowed  his  shattered  head. 


CHAPTER  XXIII 
IN  VIRGINIA  AGAIN 

Lee  moves  across  the  ridge  into  the  Piedmont  country  —  Camps 
taken  near  Rapidan — Our  Headquarters  at  Taylor's  —  Fes- 
tivities and  gaieties  —  Buying  remounts  —  Scout  Harrison 
again  —  Longstreet  and  two  divisions  start  for  Chickamauga 
—  In  Richmond  —  Harrison  as  Cassius  —  His  dismissal  — 
The  First  Army  Corps  —  Dissensions  in  Hood's  Division  — 
Jenkins  and  Law. 

The  army  being  after  some  days  refreshed  and 
strengthened  by  rest  and  food  and  the  return  of 
wounded  and  stragglers,  General  Lee  began  pre- 
paring to  move  to  a  good  position  east  of  the  moun- 
tains. It  lay  now  in  the  Valley,  and  General  Meade 
with  great  consideration  molested  us  not  nor  gave 
us  any  uneasiness.  As  usual  the  cavalry  filled  the 
gaps  of  the  Ridge  and  covered  efficiently  every  ap- 
proach, while  the  army  slowly  poured  through  its 
defiles  to  well-known  camping  grounds  on  the  sunny 
slopes  of  the  Piedmont  glades  and  meadows.  Grad- 
ually without  incident  we  found  good  camps  for  sev- 
eral weeks  in  a  rolling  country  bordered  by  the 
Rapidan.  Our  headquarters  were  in  the  grounds  of 
Mr.  Erasmus  Taylor,  a  well-known  gentleman,  farm- 
ing largely  in  that  county,  and  everything  was  done 
by  him  for  our  comfort  and  amusement.  The  house 
was  spacious,  well  fitted  for  dances  and  entertain- 
ments, and  being  crowded  with  joyous,  happy  Vir- 
ginia girls  there  was  no  lack  of  fun  and  gaiety.  We 

got  out  our  best,  cleaned  up,  kept  the  barber  busy, 

179 


i8o  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  A 

became  very  particular  as  to  the  shine  of  our  boots, 
and  put  forth  all  of  our  long  disused  bravery  in 
honor  of  the  lovely  eyes  and  true  Virginia  hearts 
that  were  joyfully  giving  us  welcome.  There  were 
for  those  young  officers  who  had  time  to  give,  dances 
by  day  and  evening  at  Taylor's  or  elsewhere  in  the 
well-settled  neighborhood,  horses  in  plenty  for  riding 
parties,  picnics,  excursions  —  everything  indeed  for 
the  happiness  of  the  young  warriors  and  their  cap- 
tivating maidens.  Hard,  brave  work  had  earned  the 
guerdon  and  it  was  no  niggard  hand  that  gave  it. 

It  was  here  I  had  to  provide  my  remounts.  My 
best  had  been  lost  in  Pickett's  charge  and  the  other 
had  broken  down  and  was  left.  I  was  consequently 
up  to  buying  two  horses,  and  after  many  trials  and 
tests  selected  from  a  certain  commissary  given  to 
horse  dealing,  two  beasts  that  I  thought  would  do 
my  work.  They  both  broke  down  under  the  demands 
of  our  Georgia  and  Tennessee  expedition,  and  later  I 
shall  have  something  to  say  about  the  sharp  officer 
who  was  so  ready  to  put  these  animals  on  me.  I  have 
already  said  that  I  cannot  call  myself  successful  in 
horse  selection.  These  two  cost  about  $2,500. 

Ah!  those  were  lovely  days;  that  short  rest  amid 
such  delightful  environments.  We  were  soon  to 
change  it,  plunge  into  the  forests  of  Georgia  and 
Tennessee,  and  fight  in  the  former  one  of  the  fiercest, 
bloodiest  battles  on  record.  But  meanwhile  time  went 
merrily  and  there  was  enjoyment  throughout  the 
army.  The  soldiers  were  in  high  spirits  and  ready 
any  day  for  the  enemy. 

Supplies  of  clothing  and  shoes  had  come  down  from 
Richmond  and  the  ranks  looked  decidedly  better. 

Harrison,  our  scout,  had  been  with  us  since  Gettys- 


CONFEDERATE  STAFF  OFFICER      181 

burg.  His  report,  all  important  as  to  the  results  of 
that  campaign,  was  not  forgotten.  With  no  imme- 
diate duties  assigned  him,  he  trotted  along  from  day 
to  day,  but  he  was  sure  of  something  to  come,  and 
it  came.  He  asked  permission  to  go  to  Richmond  for 
a  few  days.  As  there  was  nothing  to  keep  him,  leave 
was  given. 

"  Colonel,"  said  this  dark  character,  "  if  by  any 
chance  you  should  be  in  Richmond  next  week,  I  hope 
you  will  take  in  the  theater  one  evening.  (There 
was  then  not  the  slightest  expectation  of  my  being  in 
Richmond  at  that  time.)  "  What  is  the  attraction?  " 
I  asked.  "  Myself,"  said  Harrison.  "  I  have  made 
a  bet  of  $50  greenbacks  that  I  play  Cassio  and  play 
him  successfully."  "Are  you  an  actor?"  I  asked. 
"  No,  but  I  can  play."  The  matter  was  dismissed 
as  so  much  nonsense,  but  he  was  not  a  man  for  non- 
sense. It  so  happened  that  I  was  in  Richmond  the 
next  week  with  Longstreet  and  the  staff  on  the  way 
to  Georgia  to  strike  our  great  strategic  coup,  and  did 
happen  into  a  friend's  box  at  the  theater.  "  Othello  " 
was  on  the  boards  with  all  the  splendor  the  times  could 
muster,  and  my  Harrison  and  "  Cassio,"  one  and  the 
same,  were  before  me.  He  had  lied  in  part.  His 
acting  was  as  if  he  had  regularly  strutted  the  boards 
for  a  stock  company.  But  the  play  was  rather  lively 
at  times.  "  Othello  "  was  in  drink,  "  Cassius  "  was 
really  quite  far  gone,  and  even  "  Desdemona  "  was 
under  more  than  one  suspicion  that  evening. 

The  occurrence  induced  me  next  day  to  set  on 
foot  some  minute  inquiries  about  Harrison's  life.  I 
learned  that  he  was  drinking  and  gambling.  On  re- 
porting it  to  General  Longstreet  he  thought  it  better 
to  let  him  go  and  so  directed  me;  accordingly  I  had 


182  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  A 

him  paid  off,  with  an  order  to  report  to  the  Secretary 
of  War,  from  whom  he  had  originally  come. 

This  is  the  last  I  saw  of  the  mysterious  fellow. 
Longstreet  missed  him  afterwards  while  we  were  in;- 
East  Tennessee,  and  I  made  a  careful  effort  to  find 
him  and  bring  him  out  to  us. 

While  writing  I  hear  from  Latrobe  that  the  man 
is  alive  and  in  Baltimore,  seeking  some  small  assist- 
ance from  the  Confederate  veterans.  I  should  like 
to  see  his  last  days  made  comfortable. 

The  organization  of  our  First  Army  Corps  had 
suffered  no  material  damage.  The  ranks  were  kept 
fairly  well  filled  by  constant  recruiting,  and  the  feel- 
ing of  confidence  and  pride  of  this  splendid  force  of 
infantry  and  artillery  could  not  be  surpassed,  from 
the  Lieutenant-General  down  to  the  teamster.  It 
was  a  very  remarkable  body,  inspired  by  great  sacri- 
fices and  victories  in  its  history,  and  with  a  cohesive 
strength  and  belief  in  itself  that  spoke  nobly  for  the 
future.  This  is  said  on  the  eve  of  a  separation  of 
many  months,  by  which  the  larger  part  of  the  corps 
was  sent  to  strange  fields  and  new  sacrifices  and 
laurels. 

There  was,  however,  an  ugly  flaw  in  one  of  the 
divisions,  that  long  uncured  was  eventually  to  lead 
to  disaster.  When  Hood  was  borne  wounded  from 
the  Gettysburg  field  his  division  of  five  brigades  — 
Alabama,  Texas,  Georgia,  and  South  Carolina  —  fell 
under  the  command  of  the  senior  brigadier,  Mr. 
Jenkins,  of  South  Carolina.  Between  this  officer  and 
General  E.  M.  Law,  of  Alabama,  there  was  the  most 
intense  rivalry.  They  were  both  from  South  Carolina, 
and  it  was  but  a  continuation,  it  was  said,  of  what 
stirred  them  at  school  together,  at  college,  at  military 


CONFEDERATE  STAFF  OFFICER      183 

exercises,  and  finally  in  Longstreet's  corps.  They  had 
been  made  colonels  about  the  same  time  —  Law  of  an 
Alabama  regiment  —  and  had  advanced  almost  con- 
temporaneously to  be  brigadier-generals.  Longstreet 
had  recommended  them  both  for  promotion  to  major- 
general,  and  they  were  both  unquestionably  officers  of 
high  attainments  and  the  greatest  promise.  Here  we 
had  a  situation  that  made  it  useless  to  think  of  one  of 
these  men  serving  under  the  other  in  the  same  division. 
A  major-general  must  be  assigned  to  command,  or 
else  one  of  the  aspiring  brigadiers  transferred  to  an- 
other place.  Neither  was  immediately  done  and  Long- 
street  had  considerable  trouble.  Both  officers  were 
highly  valued  by  him  and  he  wanted  full  justice  done 
to  each,  but  the  situation  grew  no  better  with  time  and 
service,  and  Longstreet's  efforts  at  the  Department 
commanded  apparently  no  attention. 


CHAPTER  XXIV 

LONGSTREET    TO    REINFORCE    BRAGG 

The  movement  to  reinforce  Bragg  —  Good  work  of  the  Quarter- 
master-General —  General  A.  R.  Lawton,  of  Georgia  —  The 
journey  through  the  States  —  Ovations  to  the  troops. 

The  important  movement  now  impending  was  the 
subject  of  deep  and  secret  discussion  by  the  Presi- 
dent, Generals  Lee  and  Longstreet,  and  General  Law- 
ton,  Quartermaster-General,  whose  part  in  it  would 
be  of  the  first  consideration.  Its  gravity  can  scarcely 
be  overstated. 

Rosecrans,  commanding  the  Federal  forces  in 
Tennessee  and  Georgia,  had  suffered  himself  to  be 
in  position  inviting  attack  by  a  competent  force.  It 
was  believed  that  Bragg,  his  opponent,  if  reinforced, 
could  strike  a  swift,  crushing  blow,  relieve  the  wide 
region  in  which  he  was  operating  from  the  presence 
of  the  enemy,  and  enable  masterly  reinforcements  to 
return  rapidly  to  Virginia  without  endangering  the 
safety  of  the  Confederate  capital  or  that  of  Lee's 
army,  thus  temporarily  weakened. 

Indeed  it  was  the  military  calculation  that  so  large 
a  detachment  from  the  Southern  army  would  be  in- 
stantly followed  by  a  still  greater  withdrawal  of  troops 
from  Lee's  front,  and  that  too  by  the  outer  line  of 
the  segment,  while  our  own  contingent  was  hurry- 
ing by  the  short,  straight  cord  of  the  circle. 

This  expectation  proved  correct.  Meade  was  silent 
and  inactive,  and  our  own  army  was  stiffening  in 

184 


CONFEDERATE  STAFF  OFFICER      185 

material  and  numbers.  Meade  was  apparently  with- 
out a  plan.  His  predecessors  had  suffered  so  cruelly 
at  Fredericksburg  and  Chancellorsville  that  his  well- 
known  prudence  and  lack  of  initiative  might  be  trusted 
to  keep  him  quiet  during  our  great  strategic  coup. 
The  movement  was,  therefore,  determined  on,  and  in 
the  first  half  of  September  the  details  were  settled. 
Longstreet  was  to  take  on  the  expedition  his  two 
splendid  divisions,  McLaws  and  Hood,  the  latter  by 
this  time  quite  cured  of  his  wound,  and  Alexander's 
battalion  of  artillery  —  six  batteries.  Supply  trains 
were  to  be  furnished  "at  destination. 

The  movement  was  to  be  wholly  by  train,  and  to 
any  one  familiar  with  the  railroad  service  at  the  South 
in  the  last  part  of  1863  little  need  be  said  of  the  diffi- 
culties facing  the  Quartermaster-General. 

He  was  to  pick  up  their  camps  near  Gordonsville 
and  the  Rapidan,  nine  strong  brigades  of  infantry 
and  six  batteries  of  artillery,  and  land  them  without 
serious  accident  and  no  delay  with  their  ambulances 
and  light  vehicles  near  Chattanooga  or  Lookout  Moun- 
tain. This  feat  was  accomplished  without  stint  of 
honor  or  praise,  be  it  said,  to  the  Quartermaster-Gen- 
eral's department.  Never  before  were  so  many  troops 
moved  over  such  worn-out  railways,  none  first-class 
from  the  beginning.  Never  before  were  such  crazy 
cars  —  passenger,  baggage,  mail,  coal,  box,  platform, 
all  and  every  sort  wabbling  on  the  jumping  strap- 
iron  —  used  for  hauling  good  soldiers.  But  we  got 
there  nevertheless.  The  trains  started  day  after  day 
from  Virginia  and  worked  through  North  Carolina, 
South  Carolina,  and  Georgia  by  different  routes,  all 
converging  at  a  point  not  far  east  of  Chattanooga  — 
Catoosa  Station,  I  think,  was  the  name. 


186  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  A 

The  Quartermaster-General,  Brig.-Gen.  A.  R.  Law- 
ton,  was  my  fellow-townsman.  He  had  graduated 
from  West  Point  in  the  class  of  '39  and  entered  the 
artillery.  Soon  resigning,  he  took  up  the  study  and 
practise  of  law,  married,  and  resided  in  Savannah, 
where  he  achieved  success.  An  admirable,  well- 
rounded  character,  with  many  friends,  Lawton  was 
a  leading  man  in  municipal  and  State  affairs  for  years. 

When  the  clash  came  in  1861  there  was  no  doubt 
as  to  where  he  would  stand.  It  was  for  his  State, 
and  he  was  immediately  commissioned  a  brigadier- 
general,  stationed  on  the  coast  assembling  and  or- 
ganizing troops. 

Called  by  General  Lee  to  Virginia  in  1862,  he  took 
a  brigade  of  nearly  6,000  strong  to  Jackson  in  the 
Valley  operations,  and  served  with  distinction  in  the 
Chickahominy  battles,  the  campaign  against  Pope,  and 
at  Sharpsburg. 

At  the  latter  he  was  severely  wounded  and  retired 
from  field  service.  He  was,  however,  not  long  left 
in  quiet  ease.  Lawton's  abilities  suggested  him  for 
administrative  work,  and  he  was  made  Quartermas- 
ter-General. It  was  by  him  and  his  department  that 
our  reinforcements  were  moved  to  the  help  of  Bragg 
and  the  victory  of  Chickamauga  —  an  admirable  piece 
of  railroad  military  transportation  under  adverse  con- 
ditions. General  Lawton  was  Minister  to  Austria 
during  Cleveland's  Administration. 

The  journey  through  the  States  from  Virginia 
was  a  continuous  ovation  to  the  troops.  They  were 
fed  at  every  stopping  place  and  must  have  hated  the 
sight  of  food.  Kisses  and  tokens  of  love  and  admi- 
ration for  these  war-worn  heroes  were  ungrudgingly 
passed  around,  and  as  the  two  divisions  were  from 


CONFEDERATE  STAFF  OFFICER      187 

States  all  south  of  Virginia,  it  was  good  for  the  men 
to  show  up  in  this  fashion  even  for  a  few  minutes 
with  their  home  people. 

Many  of  the  companies  were  carried  through  their 
own  towns  and  villages  and  surrounded  by  the  eager 
faces  of  kinsfolk  and  neighbors.  But  there  were  no 
desertions  or  stops.  The  brave  fellows  pressed  stoutly 
on  with  comrades  to  meet  the  foe. 

The  first  -arrivals  plunged  into  the  battle  of  Sep- 
tember 1 9th,  and  on  the  2Oth,  when  the  final  stroke 
was  delivered,  five  of  our  brigades  were  up  and  hotly 
engaged  in  that  bloody,  all-day  battle.  The  glory 
and  renown  of  the  Army  of  Northern  Virginia  were 
fully  upheld  by  Longstreet's  men.  Some  general  out- 
lines of  the  day's  events  will  be  attempted  in  the  next 
chapter,  to  be  filled  out  at  close,  as  hitherto  tried, 
with  brief  reflections  and  observations  on  the  occur- 
rences of  the  great  struggle  and  the  days  before  and 
after  it. 


CHAPTER  XXV 
BATTLE  OF  CHICKAMAUGA,  SEPTEMBER  20,  1863 

Arrival   at   Catoosa  —  Riding  to  General   Bragg  —  The  meeting 

—  Order   of   battle  —  Polk   the    right    wing,    Longstreet    the 
left  —  attack   to    begin    on    right  —  Delayed    some    hours  — 
Left  wing  takes  it  up  victoriously  —  Attack  on  right  checked 

—  Thomas  reinforces  his  right  against  Longstreet's  assaults 

—  Cannot  stand  and  retreats  toward  Chattanooga  —  A  great 
victory  for  the  Confederates  —  Pursuit  next  day  expected  — 
Bragg    says    no  —  Army    marches    to   positions    in    front    of 
Chattanooga  —  A    barren    result  —  Lieutenant-General    Polk 

—  Sketch. 

It  was  about  three  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  of  Sep- 
tember 19  that  our  rickety  train  pulled  up,  with  jerks 
and  bangs,  at  the  little  railway  landing,  called  Catoosa 
Platform.  Longstreet  and  some  of  his  personal  staff, 
Colonels  Sorrel  and  Manning,  were  in  this  train  and 
immediately  took  horse.  The  remainder  of  the  staff, 
with  most  of  the  horses,  were  on  a  train  two  or  three 
hours  later.  The  Lieutenant-General  and  part  of  his 
staff  at  once  started  to  find  General  Bragg. 

That  General  should  surely  have  had  guides  to  meet 
and  conduct  us  to  the  conference  on  which  so  much 
depended.  A  sharp  action  had  taken  place  during 
the  day  and  it  would  appear  that  if  Bragg  wanted  to 
see  anybody,  Longstreet  was  the  man.  But  we  were 
left  to  shift  for  ourselves,  and  wandered  by  various 
roads  and  across  small  streams  through  the  growing 
darkness  of  the  Georgia  forest  in  the  direction  of  the 
Confederate  General's  bivouac.  At  one  point  in  our 
hunt  for  him  we  narrowly  escaped  capture,  being  al- 

188 


CONFEDERATE  STAFF  OFFICER      189 

most  in  the  very  center  of  a  strong  picket  of  the 
enemy  before  our  danger  was  discovered.  A  sharp 
right-about  gallop,  unhurt  by  the  pickets'  hasty  and 
surprised  fire,  soon  put  us  in  safety,  and  another  road 
was  taken  for  Bragg,  about  whom  by  this  time  some 
hard  words  were  passing. 

But  all  things  have  an  end,  even  a  friendly  hunt 
for  an  army  commander,  and  between  10  and  1 1  o'clock 
that  night  we  rode  into  the  camp  of  Gen.  Braxton 
Bragg.  He  was  asleep  in  his  ambulance,  and  when 
aroused  immediately  entered  into  private  conference 
with  Longstreet.  It  lasted  about  an  hour,  and  in  that 
time  the  plan  of  battle  for  next  day  was  definitely 
settled,  and  then  we  all  took  to  the  leafy  ground  under 
the  tall  oaks  and  hickories  for  some  sleep  against  the 
work  before  us. 

An  hour  was  quite  enough  to  settle  the  plan  and 
details,  since  nothing  could  be  simpler  than  the  opera- 
tion proposed  for  Rosecrans's  destruction. 

Bragg's  army  was  already  occupying  favorable 
ground  and  but  little  preliminary  movement  was  posi- 
tively necessary.  The  enemy's  force  was  not  far  off 
in  our  immediate  front,  seemingly  easy  to  attack. 
Bragg's  army  was,  however,  strange  to  say,  rather 
deficient  in  artillery,  and  its  want  was  felt  the  next 
day.  Our  own  batteries,  under  Alexander,  had  not 
yet  detrained.  Bragg  made  a  good  disposition  of  his 
separate  divisions  and  commands,  dividing  his  army 
into  two  wings,  the  right  under  Lieutenant-General 
Polk  and  the  left  under  Lieutenant-General  Long- 
street.  There  was  consequently  thrown  under  the  lat- 
ter three  of  Hood's  brigades  and  two  of  McLaws's 
(under  Hood),  and  Stuart's  and  Preston's  divisions 
(under  Buckner),  and  a  division  of  B.  R.  Johnson's, 


190  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  A 

and  Hindman's  with  artillery.  The  order  for  the  day 
was  simple  in  the  extreme. 

There  was  no  question  about  all  the  troops  being 
in  position  by  daylight,  and  at  that  hour  the  attack 
was  to  be  opened  by  General  Polk  on  the  extreme 
right  and  followed  up  vigorously  by  the  lines  to  the 
left,  until  the  entire  front  of  Bragg's  fine  army  should 
be  engaged  and  charging  the  enemy,  exposed  to  an 
attack  so  furious  it  was  not  believed  he  could  sustain 
it,  and  he  could  not.  It  will  be  shown  how  he  was 
partially  saved  after  the  roughest  handling  he  had  had 
since  Bull  Run.  The  right  wing  was  formed  of  Breck- 
inridge's  and  Cleburne's  divisions  under  D.  H.  Hill, 
Walker's  and  Biddell's  divisions  under  Walker,  and 
Cheatham's  division,  besides  artillery. 

Longstreet's  front  had  Wheeler's  cavalry  on  his 
extreme  left,  then  Hindman,  Hood's  corps,  Stuart, 
and  Preston  in  the  order  named,  and  they  were  ready 
for  their  work  at  daylight  on  the  2Oth,  the  other  com- 
mands in  close  support.  Unhappily,  a  most  serious 
delay  occurred  on  the  right,  by  which  Polk's  attack 
was  retarded  until  near  10  o'clock,  a  loss  of  at  least 
four  previous  hours.  Lieutenant-General  Hill's  com- 
mand was  on  Polk's  extreme  right  and  should  have 
begun  the  attack.  Orders  sent  during  the  night  by 
General  Polk  failed  to  reach  him.  On  our  part  we 
waited  with  the  utmost  impatience  for  the  guns,  but 
no  sound  came  until  10  o'clock.  Then  Polk's  attack 
was  made,  but  does  not  appear  to  have  achieved  a 
decided  success.  The  enemy  were  able  to  hold  their 
ground  against  most  of  the  right  wing  commands. 

When  it  came,  as  it  quickly  did,  to  the  left  wing 
to  put  in  its  work  there  was  another  tale.  The  ground 
was  in  parts  difficult  in  front  of  us,  but  never  was  a 


CONFEDERATE  STAFF  OFFICER      191 

more  determined,  dashing  attack  made,  never  a  more 
stubborn  resistance.  But  our  men  would  not  be 
denied.  The  fighting  lasted  nearly  all  day.  Finally 
everything  broke  before  us,  and  the  enemy's  right  was 
in  full  flight.  It  was  a  panic-stricken  host  that  fled. 
Our  Virginia  contingent  was  always  to  the  front  and 
seemed  to  fire  their  western  comrades  with  emulation 
of  the  grand  example  of  the  Army  of  Northern  Vir- 
ginia. 

Unhappily,  amid  shouts  of  victory,  General  Hood 
was  shot  down  at  the  head  of  his  seasoned  veterans. 
His  leg  was  taken  off  on  the  field,  the  operation  being 
well  borne.  But  we  were  forced  into  a  temporary 
halt. 

Reinforcements  were  pouring  fresh  and  ready 
against  our  front.  The  attack  of  the  right  wing  hav- 
ing partly  broken  down,  the  enemy  in  front  of  Polk 
was  not  held  to  their  own,  but  were  in  large  numbers 
free  for  a  masterly  movement  by  that  fine  soldier, 
Gen.  George  Thomas.  He  was  a  Virginian,  and  it  is 
said  started  to  join  his  Southern  friends  at  the  be- 
ginning, but  was  finally  won  over  to  the  Northern 
side. 

He  was  one  of  the  ablest  of  their  soldiers,  perhaps 
none  equaled  him,  and  I  heartily  wish  he  had  been 
anywhere  but  at  Chickamauga.  Thomas  pressed 
rapid  columns  to  relieve  his  overwhelmed  right  and 
was  in  time  to  make  a  good  stand,  but  it  was  unavail- 
ing, although  costing  more  blood  and  time.  His  de- 
fenses were  finally  broken  down,  about  dark,  by  our 
incessant  hammering,  and  it  was  right-about-face  and 
hasty  retreat  to  Chattanooga. 

This  was  just  as  darkness  spread  its  mantle  over 
the  fields  and  forests,  and  simultaneously  there  sprang 


192  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  A 

up  on  that  bloodstained  battle-ground  camp  fires  in- 
numerable, and  the  wildest  Confederate  cheers  and 
yells  for  victory  that  ever  stirred  the  hearts  of  war- 
riors —  and  such  warriors  as  had  that  day  borne  the 
battle-flags  forward.  It  was  one  of  the  greatest  of 
the  many  Confederate  successes. 

That  night  was  passed  in  caring  for  the  wounded, 
burying  the  dead,  and  cooking  rations,  for  in  all  that 
host  there  was  probably  only  one  who  did  not  believe 
that  "  pursuit  "  would  be  the  word  early  next  day,  and 
that  was  the  commander-in-chief.  It  is  thought  by 
some  that  General  Bragg  did  not  know  a  victory  had 
been  gained.  He  does  not  appear  to  have  been  closely 
present  on  the  battlefield,  nor  for  that  matter  was 
Rosecrans.  A  unique  instance  of  a  great  battle  being 
fought  out  of  the  immediate  presence  of  the  respective 
commanders.  The  next  morning  Bragg  asked  Long- 
street  for  suggestions.  "  Move  instantly  against 
Rosecrans's  rear  to  destroy  him,"  was  the  instant  re- 
ply. "  Should  we  fail,  we  can  put  him  in  retreat,  and 
then  clear  East  Tennessee  of  Burnside  and  the  Union 
forces." 

Apparently,  Bragg  adopted  this  view,  and  gave 
orders  to  march  out  at  4  p.  m.  The  right  wing 
marched  about  eight  miles,  ours  next  day  at  daylight. 
We  were  halted  at  the  Chickamauga  Red  House  Ford, 
I  think  it  was,  and  then  directed  to  march  to  Chat- 
tanooga. At  the  close  of  the  battle  we  could  have 
strolled  into  that  town;  now  it  was  vigorously  de- 
fended. This  was  the  fruit  of  the  great  battle;  the 
pitiable  end  of  the  glorious  victory  that  was  ours. 
The  spoils  were  8,000  prisoners,  36  pieces  of  artillery, 
15,000  small  arms,  and  25  stands  of  colors. 

It  was  a  lasting  regret  that  I  had  no  more  than  a 


CONFEDERATE  STAFF  OFFICER      193 

passing  glimpse  during  these  operations  of  the  dis- 
tinguished soldier,  Lieut-Gen.  Leonidas  Polk,  second 
in  command  of  Bragg's  army. 

A  pure  and  lofty  character,  nothing  but  the  most 
self-sacrificing,  patriotic  convictions,  and  the  almost 
peremptory  wishes  of  the  Executive  had  led  him  to 
lay  down  his  great  Episcopal  station  and  duties  and 
take  to  arms.  His  training  at  West  Point  had  well 
prepared  him  for  the  stern  efforts  in  the  field  await- 
ing Southern  men.  Throughout  his  army  career  he 
was  never  without  a  desire  to  put  by  his  sword  and 
take  up  again  his  dearly  loved  people,  his  Bishop's 
staff,  for  prayer  and  strength  and  consolation  in  their 
many  trials  and  sufferings.  But  the  President,  hold- 
ing him  in  the  highest  esteem  and  confidence,  insisted 
on  retaining  him  in  the  armies  of  the  Confederacy. 
He  could  not  but  yield.  Of  commanding  presence 
and  most  winning  address,  he  served  with  distinction 
and  renown.  While  suffering  at  the  hands  of  Bragg 
treatment  unjust  and  harsh,  he  on  the  other  hand  had 
won  to  himself  the  abiding  affection  and  confidence 
of  all  officers  and  men  whom  he  commanded. 

On  June  i,  1864,  near  Marietta,  Georgia,  that  noble 
life  ended.  In  the  distance  lay  the  hills  of  the  Etowah ; 
on  the  right,  Kenesaw  reared  its  lofty  heights.  The 
Generals  —  Johnston,  Hardee,  and  Polk  —  had  to- 
gether walked  off  to  observe  a  portion  of  the  enemy's 
lines,  some  distance  away.  Soon  after  they  slowly 
separated. 

Dr.  W.  M.  Polk,  the  General's  son,  eminent  in  his 
profession,  and  author  of  his  interesting  biography, 
simply  relates  what  then  happened  (Vol.  II,  p.  349)  : 

General  Polk  walked  to  the  crest  of  the  hill,  and,  entirely  ex- 
posed, turned   himself   around   as   if   to   take  a   farewell   view. 


194      CONFEDERATE  STAFF  OFFICER 

Folding  his  arms  across  his  breast,  he  stood  intently  gazing  on 
the  scene  below.  While  thus  he  stood,  a  cannon  shot  crashed 
his  breast,  and  opening  a  wide  door,  let  free  that  indomitable 
spirit.  He  fell  upon  his  back  with  his  feet  to  the  foe.  Amid  the 
shot  and  shell  now  poured  upon  the  hill,  his  faithful  escort  gath- 
ered up  the  body  and  bore  it  to  the  foot  of  the  hill.  There  in 
a  sheltered  ravine  his  sorrow-stricken  comrades,  silent  and  in 
tears,  gathered  around  his  mangled  corpse. 


CHAPTER  XXVI 
CHATTANOOGA  —  INCIDENTS 

The  Western  army  —  Its  general  appearance  —  Feeling  toward 
Bragg  —  President  Davis's  visit  — >  An  incident  in  battle  — • 
General  W.  W.  Mackall,  chief  of  Bragg*  s  staff  —  Losses  — 
A  captured  saber  —  General  Forrest  —  General  Benning  and 
Longstreet  —  Vizitelly's  battle-picture  —  Quartermaster  Mitch- 
ell dead  —  Manning  wounded  —  President  Davis's  escort  — 
The  Austrian  captain's  brilliant  uniform. 

We  were  therefore  marched  back  to  what  was  called 
the  siege  of  Chattanooga,  finding  the  enemy  there  in 
fine  spirits  after  the  indulgent  reprieve  granted  him; 
strengthening  his  works,  perfecting  his  communica- 
tions with  the  rear,  and  pouring  in  men  from  the  East, 
who,  following  our  own  movements,  were  necessarily 
late  in  arriving  by  the  outer  line.  Bragg  put  his  army 
in  position  across  Missionary  Creek  (subject  to 
perilous  overflow)  and  occupied  Lookout  Mountain 
with  his  left  and  Missionary  Ridge  with  his  right,  and 
here  I  shall  leave  the  army  while  jotting  down  some 
observations  and  incidents  since  we  left  Virginia. 

The  personal  appearance  of  Bragg's  army  was,  of 
course,  matter  of  interest  to  us  of  Virginia.  The 
men  were  a  fine-looking  lot,  strong,  lean,  long-limbed 
fighters.  The  Western  tunic  was  much  worn  by  both 
officers  and  men.  It  is  an  excellent  garment,  and  its 
use  could  be  extended  with  much  advantage. 

The  army  gave  one  the  feeling  of  a  very  loose 
organization.  Ther,e  were  indeed  corps,  so  called,  but 
not  that  compact,  shoulder-to-shoulder  make-up  of 

IPS 


196  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  A 

Lee's  army.  There  a  First  Corps  man  would  so  speak 
of  himself,  just  as  a  Third  Georgia  Regiment  man 
would  speak  of  the  regiment  to  which  he  belonged. 
The  artillery,  which  seemed  to  me  not  as  strong  as 
should  be,  looked  a  bit  primitive.  The  battalion  unit 
was  not  often  met  with;  but,  on  the  contrary,  many 
single  independent  batteries,  nominally  attached  to  in- 
fantry commands,  but  on  the  day  of  the  battle  wander- 
ing loose,  hunting  for  their  supports.  The  subsistence 
and  quartermaster's  departments  were  well  supplied 
with  food  and  forage,  but  weak  in  transportation. 
The  tone  of  the  army  among  its  higher  officers  to- 

.  ward    the    commander    was    the    worst    conceivable. 
Bragg  was  the  subject  of  hatred  and  contempt,  and 

i  it  was  almost  openly  so  expressed.     His  great  officers 
gave  him  no  confidence  as  a  general-in-chief .     The 

;  army  was  thus  left  a  helpless  machine,  and  its  great 
disaster  in  November  at  Missionary  Ridge  and  Look- 

^  out  Mountain  could  easily  be  foreseen  with  Bragg  re- 
tained in  command. 

Mr.  Davis  made  his  celebrated  visit  to  the  camp 
to  see  and  hear  for  himself.  It  is  difficult,  even  now, 
to  recall  and  realize  that  unprecedented  scene.  The 
President,  with  the  commander-in-chief,  and  the  great 
officers  of  the  army,  assembled  to  hear  the  opinion  of 
the  General's  fitness  for  comman'd.  In  the  presence 
of  Bragg  and  his  corps  commanders  he  asked  of  each 
his  opinion,  and  his  reasons  if  adverse.  This  was  eye 
to  eye  with  the  President,  the  commander-in-chief,  and 
the  generals.  There  was  no  lack  of  candor  in  answer 
to  such  challenge  with  men  like  Longstreet,  Cheatham, 
Hill,  Cleburne,  and  Stewart.  Some  very  plain  lan- 
guage was  used  in  answer,  but  it  seems  that  one  and 
all  were  quite  agreed  as  to  Bragg's  unfitness  for  com- 


CONFEDERATE  STAFF  OFFICER      197 

mand  of  that  army.  These  opinions  were  received 
by  the  President  and  his  general  without  comment, 
and  Mr.  Davis  got  more  than  he  came  for. 

An  incident  of  the  day  of  battle  will  indicate  some 
differences  between  the  Eastern  and  Western  armies 
in  the  reception  of  orders.  While  Thomas  was 
heavily  reinforcing  his  right,  a  column  of  fours  was 
seen  marching  across  Gen.  A.  P.  Stewart's  front.  If 
attacked,  its  destruction  was  certain.  I  pointed  out 
the  opportunity  to  General  Stewart,  his  position  being 
admirable  for  the  purpose.  His  answer  was  that  he 
was  there  by  orders  and  could  not  move  until  he  got 
others.  I  explained  that  I  was  chief  of  staff  to  Long- 
street  and  felt  myself  competent  to  give  such  an  order 
as  coming  from  my  chief,  and  that  this  was  customary 
in  our  Virginia  service.  General  Stewart,  however, 
courteously  insisted  that  he  could  not  accept  them  un- 
less assured  the  orders  came  direct  from  Longstreet. 
Valuable  time  was  being  lost,  but  I  determined  to  have 
a  whack  at  those  quick-moving  blue  masses.  Asking 
General  Stewart  to  get  ready,  that  I  hoped  soon  to 
find  Longstreet,  I  was  off,  and  luckily  did  find  him 
after  an  eager  chase.  Longstreet's  thunderous  tones 
need  not  be  described  when,  in  the  first  words  of 
explanation,  he  sent  me  back  with  orders  to  Stewart 
to  fall  on  the  reinforcing  column  with  all  his  power. 
Stewart  was  ready  and  pushed  forward  handsomely. 
In  a  few  minutes,  with  little  or  no  loss  to  himself, 
he  had  broken  up  Thomas's  men  and  taken  many 
prisoners.  This  was  quite  late  in  the  afternoon,  twi- 
light coming  on. 

My  brother-in-law,  General  W.  W.  Mackall,  was 
serving  with  Bragg  as  chief  of  staff,  although  his 
rank  and  attainments  qualified  him  for  higher  duties. 


198  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  A 

But  the  Executive  at  Richmond  was  not  favorably 
disposed  toward  him,  and  the  best  that  could  be  had 
for  service  must  content  him.  It  seems  that  he  and 
Bragg  had  been  long  friends,  having  served  together 
in  the  old  Army.  I  was  glad  to  come  up  with  him, 
and  delighted  his  soul  by  a  gift  of  a  five-pound  bale  of 
Virginia  Killikinick  smoking  tobacco,  in  place  of  the 
vile  stuff  he  was  blowing  off. 

The  numbers  on  both  sides,  and  the  casualties,  are 
generally  accepted  as  follows :  Rosecrans's  strength, 
60,867;  Bragg' s  strength,  60,366.  Rosecrans's  losses, 
16,550;  Bragg's  losses,  17,800. 

It  was  during  the  battle  that  I  became  the  pos- 
sessor of  a  handsomely  mounted  saber.  In  a  part 
of  the  field  near  us  there  was  a  sudden  sharp,  deadly 
scrimmage  between  some  of  our  mounted  men  and 
the  enemy,  a  small  force  on  each  side.  It  was  soon 
over,  and  Hardy,  one  of  my  couriers,  a  stout,  ready 
Georgian,  came  to  me  with  a  beautiful  saber,  evi- 
dently a  presentation  to  the  lieutenant-colonel  whose 
name  was  engraved  on  it.  My  fellow  made  me  a 
gift  of  the  handsome  blade,  and  I  wore  it  until  peace 
came.  What  became  of  the  lieutenant-colonel  I  could 
never  ascertain. 

"  His  sword  it  is  rust, 
His  bones  they  are  dust. 
His  soul  is  with  the  Saints,  I  trust." 

The  good  sword  was  treasured  until  a  few  years 
ago,  when  the  ladies  of  the  Confederate  Museum  at 
Richmond  asked  me  to  put  it  among  their  collection, 
and  there  it  hangs  to-day,  I  hope  for  many  years. 

It  was  on  the  2Oth  that  I  had  my  look  at  the 
celebrated  Forrest.  Truly  a  most  powerful,  impres- 
sive figure  of  a  great  cavalryman.  He  was  yet  to 


CONFEDERATE  STAFF  OFFICER      199 

become  still  greater,  as  one  of  the  first  commanders 
of  the  South,  and  subsequent  studies  of  his  life  and 
career  only  expand  this  admiration  into  deeper  feel- 
ings for  the  great  soldier. 

Dr.  John  Wyeth's  interesting  biography  of  For- 
rest, published  only  in  the  past  few  years,  is  most 
fascinating,  and  has  gone  far  to  place  him  as  one 
of  the  greatest  leaders  of  the  Civil  War.  During  the 
battle  a  queer  scene  between  Longstreet  and  the  val- 
iant old  brigadier,  Benning,  commanding  one  of 
Hood's  brigades,  illustrates  Longstreet's  grim  calm  in 
action,  and  the  excitability  of  "  Old  Rock,"  as  his  men 
called  him.  A  sudden  counter-stroke  of  the  enemy 
had  smashed  his  brigade  and  they  were  badly  scattered. 
Benning  thought  that  they  were  "  all  gone."  Seizing 
an  artillery  horse  that  was  galloping  by,  harness  fly- 
ing, he  threw  himself  on  the  terrified  animal  and  found 
Longstreet.  "  General,"  said  the  brigadier,  "  I  am 
ruined ;  my  brigade  was  suddenly  attacked  and  every 
man  killed ;  not  one  is  to  be  found.  Please  give  orders 
where  I  can  do  some  fighting."  Longstreet  saw  the 
excitement  and  quickly  cooled  it.  "  Nonsense,  Gen- 
eral, you  are  not  so  badly  hurt.  Look  about  you.  I 
know  you  will  find  at  least  one  man,  and  .with  him  on 
his  feet  report  your  brigade  to  me,  and  you  two  shall 
have  a  place  in  the  fighting-line." 

Benning  saw  it,  took  the  hint,  hunted  up  his  men, 
who  were  not  so  badly  mauled  after  all,  and  with  a 
respectable  body  was  soon  ready  for  work. 

Vizitelly,  the  English  artist,  had  started  from  Rich- 
mond with  us,  to  sketch  and  draw  for  the  campaign; 
something  stopped  him  on  the  way,  drink,  probably. 
At  all  events,  he  arrived  very  sheep-faced,  long  after 
the  battle.  He  took  me  aside  with :  "  Colonel,  I  am 


2OO 

in  an  awful  mess.  I  must  send  drawings  and  a  pic- 
ture of  this  great  battle  to  my  paper  somehow.  Can- 
not you  help  me?"  We  were  at  the  time  not  very 
far  from  a  little  field  that  had  a  scene  during  the  fight- 
ing which  struck  me,  even  then,  as  somewhat  pic- 
turesque. The  open  field  crowned  with  thick  woods 
at  one  side,  through  which  frowned  half  a  dozen  Fed- 
eral guns  and  a  brigade  of  ours  moving  up  in  beau- 
tiful order  to  capture  it.  I  said  as  much  as  this  to 
Vizitelly,  and  sent  him  to  look  at  the  spot.  He  re- 
turned, on  fire  with  his  artist's  fancies,  and  shut  him- 
self up  for  several  days.  Then  he  emerged  with  draw- 
ings, and  much  letter-press  of  what  he  had  actually 
seen;  and  principally  a  very  large  drawing  beautifully 
finished  of  the  so-called  "  Little  scene."  But  heavens ! 
all  resemblance  had  ceased.  Instead  of  the  slight  af- 
fair, three  solid  lines  of  infantry  were  moving  across 
a  great  stretch  of  ground  against  hundreds  of  guns 
that  were  devastating  our  troops  in  fire  and  smoke. 
In  the  central  portion  there  was  the  wounding  and 
fall  of  a  great  officer  and  the  closing  in  of  the  soldiers 
to  protect  him.  "What  think  you?"  said  the  proud 
Vizitelly.  "  Splendid,  but  nothing  like  it  took  place." 
"  No  matter,  it  might  have  happened,  and  besides  all 
battle-pictures  are  drawn  with  such  freedom."  "  Who 
is  the  general  just  falling?"  "That,  sir,  is  General 
Hood,  drawn  the  instant  of  being  shot."  "  But,  my 
good  Vizitelly,  Hood  was  not  within  a  mile  of  that 
little  field  I  gave  you."  "  No  matter,  he  was  shot, 
no  one  will  deny  that;  and  I  must  have  a  great  in- 
teresting center  for  my  picture.  You  fellows  are  alto- 
gether too  particular.  This  goes  by  first  underground 
chance,  and  you  will  see  it  in  the  London  Illustrated 


CONFEDERATE  STAFF  OFFICER      201 

News."  And  so  I  did  in  the  quiet  sitting-room  of  a 
Northern  friend  later  on. 

He  is  not  the  only  one  of  artistic  imagination  for 
battle-pictures. 

At  Chickamauga,  we  lost  our  quartermaster,  Major 
Mitchell,  of  Virginia,  a  valuable  officer.  A  sudden 
attack  of  diphtheria  carried  him  off  like  a  stroke  of 
lightning.  Major  Erasmus  Taylor,  of  Orange  Court 
House,  Virginia,  was  immediately  appointed  in  his 
place,  and  served  with  us  efficiently  until  the  close  of 
the  war. 

Lieutenant-Colonel  Manning,  of  our  staff,  was 
slightly  wounded  in  the  battle  of  the  2Oth.  A  frag- 
ment of  shell  pierced  his  scalp,  causing  much  loss  of 
blood,  but  otherwise  no  great  damage.  He  was  soon 
about  his  ordnance  duties  as  good  as  ever. 

When  President  Davis  came  to  Bragg's  army  on 
his  visit  of  conciliation  and  support  to  his  general, 
there  was  a  universal  turnout  to  give  the  Executive 
our  best  reception.  At  all  headquarters  the  least 
shabby  uniforms  were  looked  up  and  our  best  be- 
longings for  horse  and  man  were  brought  out.  Mr. 
Davis  had  a  really  fine  escort  to  the  top  of  Lookout 
Mountain  and  back  to  quarters.  At  First  Corps  head- 
quarters we  still  had  the  pleasure  of  Captain  Fitz- 
gerald Ross  with  us,  a  companionable  and  honorable 
officer  and  gentleman.  On  this  occasion  we  thought 
it  time  for  Ross  to  show  the  quality  of  his  Austrian 
corps,  and  most  reluctantly  he  consented  to  ride  with 
us  in  full  uniform.  It  was  a  beauty  and  a  wonder! 
Sky-blue  tunic  and  trousers,  fitting  skin-tight  to  the 
body  and  legs,  loaded  down  with  the  richest  gold  braid 
and  ornaments.  Tiny  boots,  tasseled  and  varnished, 


202  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  A 

incased  the  Captain's  shapely  Hussar  legs.  And  then 
the  pelisse  hanging  from  the  left  shoulder !  —  it  would 
be  the  envy  of  any  woman.  The  color,  still  sky-blue, 
of  the  finest  cloth,  lined  with  buff  satin,  gold  braided 
and  richly  furred.  A  smart,  richly  plumed  Hunga- 
rian busby,  with  handsomely  mounted  curved  saber  and 
gold  cords,  completed  the  costume  of  this  brilliant 
representative  of  his  corps  d'elite. 

We  gave  Ross  our  plaudits  and  thanks  for  his  fine 
appearance,  and  only  on  returning  was  there  any  an- 
noyance. The  large  cortege  about  the  President 
parted  and  some  of  us  found  ourselves  riding  with 
Ross  under  Maj.-Gen.  John  C.  Breckinridge.  Our 
route  lay  through  one  of  his  divisions  camped  in  the 
noble  primeval  forests.  The  men  were  scattered  all 
about  attending  to  their  personal  matters,  cooking, 
cleaning  arms,  mending,  and,  as  it  seemed,  many 
stripped  to  the  waist  examining  very  closely  their  shirts 
and  undergarments. 

Without  going  into  particulars,  all  soldiers  in  the 
field  must  be  careful  in  this  respect.  Long-worn 
clothing  had  a  way  of  "  gathering "  things,  and  it 
was  what  had  to  be  done  in  all  our  armies.  But 
when  the  scattered  troops  saw  the  brilliant  apparition 
of  Captain  Ross  riding  with  their  General  there  was 
a  shout  and  a  rush  to  him.  Such  was  the  rough 
admiration  exhibited  that  harm  might  have  come  to 
him  but  for  Breckinridge.  He  motioned  the  men 
back,  said  the  Captain  was  his  guest,  and,  "  When 
you  fellows  get  to  his  army  on  a  visit  you  will  find 
him  treating  you  more  civilly;  so  get  back  to  your 
bivouacs  and  make  yourselves  clean." 

There  was  a  good-natured  cheer  for  Breckinridge, 


CONFEDERATE  STAFF  OFFICER      203 

Ross,  the  President,  and  all  the  rest  of  us,  and  we 
got  back  to  camp  with  much  cheerful  chaff  for  poor 
Ross  and  his  gay  uniform. 


CHAPTER  XXVII 

THE  EAST  TENNESSEE  CAMPAIGN,  NOVEMBER 
1863,  TO  APRIL,  1864 

Ordered  by  Bragg  to  move  against  Burnside  and  Knoxville — 
Our  two  divisions  —  Wheeler's  cavalry  with  artillery  — 
Burnside's  strength  —  At  Sweetwater,  November  2ist  — 
-  Disappointed  in  supplies  —  The  railway  —  Pontoons,  but  no 
train  —  Cross  Holston  at  Loudon  —  Enemy  escapes  into 
Knoxville  —  Hood's  old  division  —  Generals  Jenkins  and 
Law  —  Siege  of  Knoxville  —  Bull  Winthrop  —  McLaws 
ready  for  an  assault  —  Troops  ordered  to  support  —  General 
Leadbetter,  of  Bragg's  staff,  orders  assault  —  Brigadiers  Wof- 
ford,  Humphreys,  and  Bryan  attacked  —  Repulsed  at  Fort 
Saunders  —  General  Longstreet  assumes  the  blame  —  Losses. 

After  a  long  wait,  General  Bragg  settled  on  some- 
thing. He  decided  to  make  a  move  against  Burnside 
and  Knoxville.  About  November  3,  Longstreet  re- 
ceived his  instructions.  They  were  about  in  line  with 
what  the  Lieutenant-General  wanted  instantly  after 
Chickamauga  and  what  should  have  been  done,  but 
the  General-in-Chief  could  not  see  it,  and,  welcoming 
the  orders  even  at  this  late  day,  we  prepared  for  a 
hearty  support  and  active  campaign. 

The  troops  of  the  expedition  were  to  be  the  two 
divisions  (nine  brigades  of  infantry)  brought  from 
Virginia  and  Alexander's  fine  battalion  of  artillery, 
six  batteries;  also  Leyden's  artillery,  and  Wheeler's 
powerful  body  of  cavalry  (four  brigades)  and  horse 
artillery.  We  were  also  to  take  up  all  the  loose  bodies 
of  troops  to  be  found  in  the  wide  district  to  be  cov- 
ered. A  force  of  about  3,000  men  was  promised  from 
southwest  Virginia. 

It  was  an  ill-disciplined  body,  not  well  organized, 
204 


CONFEDERATE  STAFF  OFFICER      205 

but  accomplished  wonders  under  Wheeler  as  a  screen 
to  the  army,  and  an  unceasing  menace  to  the  enemy's 
communications.  He  had  some  able  officers  with  him, 
Generals  W.  J.  Martin,  John  T.  Morgan,  G.  G.  Dib- 
brell,  and  Thomas  Harrison.  When  Wheeler  left  us 
with  instructions  for  a  movement  calling  for  some 
night  work  his  cheerful  words  to  his  fellows  were: 
"  Come,  boys,  mount.  The  War  Child  rides  to-night." 
That  being,  it  seems,  one  of  his  pet  names  among  the 
men. 

Major-General  Wheeler  was  not  long  with  us, 
Bragg,  to  whom  his  services  were  invaluable,  hav- 
ing sent  for  him.  I  saw  him  I  think  but  once.  He 
had  reported  to  Longstreet  for  orders  and  was  fol- 
lowed by  a  rather  numerous  staff  and  escort.  A  small, 
slight  man,  very  quick  and  alert  in  his  movements, 
quite  young,  only  recently  from  West  Point,  he  had 
justly  earned  great  distinction  as  the  cavalry  leader  of 
our  Western  army. 

Burnside's  force  south  of  Knoxville  was  computed 
at  about  15,000,  and  if  we  could  get  all  the  troops 
Bragg  held  out  to  our  commander,  there  would  be 
enough  of  us  to  crush  Burnside.  But  the  Federal  gen- 
eral had  within  reach  some  five  thousand  more  men 
than  General  Bragg  estimated. 

The  expedition,  glad  to  be  on  the  move,  set  out 
smartly  for  Tyner's  Station,  where  it  was  to  be  en- 
trained for  Sweetwater,  but  things  went  decidedly 
wrong.  We  had  brought  no  transportation  from  Vir- 
ginia and  General  Bragg's  officers  supplied  us  with 
wagons  and  teams,  but  held  themselves  under  Bragg's 
order.  A  most  inconvenient  disposition  then,  and 
until  we  parted  company  with  that  commander  for 
good. 


206  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  A 

With  these  and  other  difficulties  it  was  November 
1 2th  before  the  last  of  our  brigades  came  to  Sweet- 
water.  Here  there  were  more  disappointments  as  to 
rations,  supplies,  and  transportation.  We  were  de- 
pendent on  Bragg's  provisions,  which  cruelly  failed 
us.  Not  to  dwell  too  long  on  these  mishaps,  I  need 
only  add  that  they  beset  the  entire  campaign. 

The  cars  and  railway  by  which  we  helped  the  trans- 
portation were  almost  comical  in  their  inefficiency. 
The  railroad  was  of  heavy  grades  and  the  engines 
light-powered.  When  a  hill  was  reached  the  long 
train  would  be  instantly  emptied  —  platforms,  roofs, 
doors,  and  windows  —  of  our  fellows,  like  ants  out 
of  a  hill,  who  would  ease  things  by  trudging  up  the 
dirt  road  and  catching  on  again  at  the  top;  and  so  it 
went  on  as  far  as  the  railroad  would  serve  us. 

A  bridge  train  had  been  prepared  by  the  engineers, 
and  it  had  been  our  intention  to  use  it  across  the  Little 
Tennessee,  or  Halston,  above  its  confluence  and  through 
Marysville.  But  here  again  was  disappointment ;  there 
were  pontoons  but  no  train  for  hauling. 

We  were  thus  forced  to  throw  our  bridge  across 
at  Loudon,  where,  fortunately,  the  boats  could  be 
floated  direct  from  cars  without  need  of  wagons,  and 
there  that  curious  bridge  was  laid  by  our  worthy 
engineers.  It  was  a  sight  to  remember.  The  cur- 
rent was  strong,  the  anchorage  insufficient,  the  boats 
and  indeed  entire  outfit  quite  primitive,  and  when 
lashed  finally  to  both  banks  it  might  be  imagined  a 
bridge;  but  a  huge  letter  "  S  "  in  effect  it  was  with  its 
graceful  reverse  curves.  But  no  man  should  abuse 
the  bridge  by  which  he  safely  crosses,  and  this  one 
took  us  over,  using  care  and  caution.  I  shall  always 
love  the  looks  of  that  queer  bridge. 


CONFEDERATE  STAFF  OFFICER      207 

The  enemy  was  well  advised  as  to  our  movements, 
and  evidently  conducted  his  retreat  with  skill  and  no 
serious  losses.  At  Lenoir's  Station  he  was  forced  to 
leave  nearly  a  hundred  loaded  wagons,  though  the 
running-gear  had  been  broken  up  so  as  to  make  them 
of  no  immediate  use  to  us. 

I  do  not  give  in  detail  the  various  movements  of 
our  advance  from  one  point  to  another,  their  charac- 
ter generally  not  being  of  the  highest  credit  to  us  in 
rapidity  or  co-operation  of  our  several  commands. 

A  fine  opportunity  of  crushing  Burnside  was  lost 
at  Campbell's  Station.  Burnside's  retreat  was  in  time 
to  cover  the  roads  leading  into  it,  and  there  he  had 
to  make  a  stand.  We  should  have  beaten  him  badly, 
but  he  escaped  and  was  soon  safe  in  Knoxville.  The 
roads  were  deep  in  mud  and  caused  hard  travel  and 
labor,  but  they  were  no  better  for  the  Union  force. 

Campbell's  Station  cannot  be  termed  a  serious  bat- 
tle. It  was  principally  an  artillery  fight,  in  which  the 
gallant  Alexander  was  tormented  by  defective  am- 
munition. It  should  have  been  a  strong  and  decisive 
battle,  but  things  went  wrong  with  the  infantry  di- 
visions and  an  effective  co-operation  was  not  secured. 
Ah !  would  that  we  could  have  had  Hood  again  at  the 
head  of  his  division. 

As  it  was,  the  five  brigades  of  this  fine  command 
were  practically  paralyzed  by  the  differences  between 
the  senior  brigadier  in  command,  Jenkins,  and  his  com- 
petitor, General  E.  M.  Law.  It  was  a  most  unhappy 
condition  of  things,  but  by  no  fault  of  Longstreet. 
When  Mr.  Davis  visited  us  at  Chickamauga  the  Lieu- 
tenant-General  laid  the  situation  before  him  and  urged 
the  promotion  and  appointment  of  Jenkins,  to  which 
Mr.  Davis  would  not  listen.  He  was  asked  then  to 


208  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  A 

appoint  Law,  but  this  also  met  the  Executive's  "  No," 
that  officer  being  junior;  and  then  Longstreet  begged 
the  assignment  of  any  good  major-general  to  be  found 
elsewhere.  But  none  came  then;  months  after  one 
was  sent  when  irretrievable  mischief  had  been  done  by 
the  unfortunate  condition  of  the  division.  It  lasted 
during  all  the  subsequent  operations  in  East  Tennessee 
throughout  the  winter. 

Thus  it  came  about  that  the  enemy  eluded  us  at 
Campbell's  Station,  and  the  next  day  was  behind  his 
works  at  Knoxville,  except  his  cavalry,  which  lingered 
to  retard  our  march.  Our  army  followed  closely,  at 
once  put  the  enemy's  works  under  fire,  and  so  began 
what  is  called  the  "  Siege  of  Knoxville." 

By  many  it  is  thought  to  have  been  a  serious  error 
on  the  part  of  the  Confederate  commander,  the  re- 
sorting to  so  slow  a  process.  "  He  should  have  at- 
tacked immediately  " ;  and  I  am  disposed  to  consider 
intelligent  statements  of  Union  officers  and  citizens  of 
Knoxville,  long  after,  as  indicating  that  an  energetic 
movement,  without  the  slightest  delay,  would  have  car- 
ried us  into  the  town  and  brought  Burnside  to  terms. 

On  the  1 8th  of  November  McLaws  advanced  against 
some  defenses  of  skirmishers,  but  part  of  his  line 
halted  before  reaching  the  crest  of  the  hill.  Captain 
Winthrop,  an  Englishman  serving  with  Alexander, 
dashed  forward,  and  encouraging  the  men  got  through 
the  hill  in  handsome  style.  It  was  well  done  by  "  Bull  " 
Winthrop,  as  we  called  him,  and  he  picked  up  a  nasty 
wound  in  the  doing  of  it. 

Burnside's  strongest  defense  was  Fort  London, 
later  called  Fort  Saunders,  for  the  gallant  officer  of 
that  name  who  fell  in  its  defense.  It  .was  a  strong 
earthwork,  closely  under  McLaws's  eye,  who  was  ex- 


CONFEDERATE  STAFF  OFFICER     209 

pected  to  capture  it.  Of  course  he  had  done  much 
work  toward  it  —  ditches,  parallels,  and  many  devices 
for  success.  A  night  attack  was  proposed  and  at  one 
time  favored. 

On  the  22d  General  McLaws  thought  the  time  had 
come  and  he  was  ordered  to  prepare  his  assaulting 
column,  supported  by  the  division.  Longstreet  also 
ordered  up  other  troops  for  support  and  following  up 
a  success.  Later  on  McLaws  reported  that  his  officers 
preferred  daylight  for  the  work  before  them  and 
the  movement  was  for  the  time  deferred.  On  the  23d 
we  heard  that  Bragg  had  been  attacked  at  Chattanooga. 
Bushrod  Johnson's  division  of  two  brigades  was  at 
Loudon  moving  to  us,  and  our  strength  then  would  be 
eleven  brigades  of  infantry,  Wheeler's  cavalry  of  four 
brigades  (Wheeler  himself  had  been  ordered  back  by 
Bragg,  leaving  the  horse  under  command  of  Maj.- 
Gen.  Will  T.  Martin),  Alexander's  artillery,  and 
Leyden's  battalion. 

On  the  25th,  Bragg's  chief  engineer,  General  Lead- 
better,  brought  orders  from  the  former  to  attack  im- 
mediately. Longstreet  was  reluctant.  Troops  from 
Virginia  were  on  the  march,  due  with  us  in  eight  or 
ten  days,  and  with  them  the  investment  could  be  made 
complete.  The  enemy  was  also  said  to  be  on  half 
rations,  and  an  attack  now  with  chances  of  our  re- 
pulse would  be  all  in  his  favor.  But  Leadbetter  felt 
that  Bragg's  orders  were  imperative  and  the  assault 
must  be  attempted.  Minute  orders  were  then  sent  to 
McLaws  for  the  effort.  The  details  are  rather  lengthy 
for  the  scope  of  these  recollections.  It  was  intended 
for  the  28th,  but  because  of  bad  weather  put  off  until 
the  29th.  At  the  appointed  time  the  vigorous  assault 
was  made  in  fine  form  by  the  brigades  of  Wofford, 


210  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  A 

Humphreys,  and  Bryan  in  the  early  gray  of  the  morn- 
ing. At  first  we  seemed  to  be  going  right  ahead, 
shoving  everything  aside,  but  some  stops  were  made 
and  the  wounded  men  began  coming  back. 

General  Longstreet  says  that  when  Major  Goggin, 
an  old  Army  man  on  McLaws's  staff,  reported  to 
him  that  it  would  be  useless  to  persevere,  that  the 
fort  was  so  surrounded  with  net-works  of  wire  that 
no  progress  could  be  made  without  axes  and  not  an 
axe  was  to  be  found  — "  Without  a  second  thought, 
I  ordered  the  recall."  He  says  later  that  the  accounts 
of  General  Poe,  the  engineer  in  charge  of  the  works, 
convinced  him  that  the  few  wires  met  with  were  far 
from  being  the  serious  obstacle  reported  and  that  we 
could  have  gone  in  without  axes.  It  also  seemed  sure 
that  the  fort  was  nearly  ours  by  the  retirement  of 
part  of  its  garrison,  only  some  two  hundred  men  be- 
ing kept  with  the  guns. 

General  Longstreet  takes  upon  himself  the  failure 
of  the  assault.  It  seems  conclusive  to  him  that  it 
was  due  to  the  order  for  recall.  He  had  long  known 
Goggin.  Some  of  our  men  pushed  into  the  fort. 
One  gallant  young  officer,  Adjutant  Cumming,  from 
Augusta,  Georgia,  leaped  through  an  embrasure  and 
instantly  demanded  the  surrender  of  fort  and  gar- 
rison. The  Union  troops  cheered  the  feat  while  mak- 
ing him  a  prisoner  of  war.  Almost  immediately  after 
the  repulse  General  Longstreet  received  a  telegram 
from  the  President  to  the  effect  that  "  Bragg  had  been 
forced  back  by  numbers  and  that  we  were  to  co-operate 
with  his  army."  A  euphemism  on  the  part  of  the 
President  —  Bragg  had  suffered  a  severe  defeat  and 
was  in  full  retreat.  He  made  for  Dalton,  which  put 
out  of  the  question  any  co-operation  by  us.  Our  own 


CONFEDERATE  STAFF  OFFICER      2 1 1 

safety  was  to  be  considered  and  how  it  could  be  ac- 
complished. 

The  casualties  at  Knoxville  are  thus  given:  Con- 
federate loss  in  assault,  822;  Union  loss  in  assault, 
673;  Confederate  loss  in  campaign,  1,296;  Union  loss 
in  campaign,  1,481. 


CHAPTER  XXVIII 
THE  EAST  TENNESSEE  CAMPAIGN,  CONTINUED 

In  front  of  Knoxyille  after  repulse  —  Position  serious  —  Bragg 
defeated  at  Missionary  Ridge  —  Reinforcements  pressing  to 
Burnside  —  We  withdraw  to  the  eastward  —  Halt  at  Rogers- 
ville  —  Foraging  good  —  Supplies  in  valleys  sufficient  —  We 
decide  to  winter  there  —  Occasional  operations  without  im- 
portance —  Affair  at  Bean's  Station  —  Much  uneasiness  at 
Washington  at  Longstreet's  presence  in  East  Tennessee  — 
General  Grant  ordered  to  drive  him  out  —  Affair  at  Dand- 
ridge  —  Great  want  of  shoes  —  A  supply  from  Quartermas- 
ter General  —  General  McLaws  relieved  from  duty  —  The 
correspondence  —  General  McLaws's  resignation  —  Intense 
cold  —  Roads  almost  impassable  —  Inhabitants  of  the.  valleys 
and  mountaineers  —  The  fierce  old  woman  —  Mountain  fast- 
nesses —  Deserters  from  a  North  Carolina  regiment  —  Their 
capture  and  execution  —  General  Schofield  in  command  of 
Union  army  —  We  take  position  and  make  camps  near  Bull's 
Gap. 

Our  position  was  now  becoming  serious.  Some  ad- 
ditional troops  under  Ransom  would  soon  join  us,  but 
the  enemy  was  being  heavily  reinforced.  Grant  had 
decided  to  drive  us  out  of  East  Tennessee.  A  letter 
from  him  to  Burnside  by  courier  was  captured,  ad- 
vising him  of  three  columns  en  route  for  his  relief  — 
one  on  south  side  by  General  Sherman,  one  by  Dechared 
under  General  Elliott,  and  one  by  Cumberland  Gap 
under  General  Foster.  Longstreet  decided  to  march 
past  Knoxville  on  the  north  side  of  the  river  and  aim 
for  the  column  reported  coming  from  Cumberland 
Gap.  The  enemy  did  not  see  fit  to  molest  our  flank 
as  we  marched  past  his  defenses  on  the  2d  of  Decem- 
ber. 

213 


CONFEDERATE  STAFF  OFFICER      213 

There  was  good  foraging  in  the  country,  and  we 
halted  at  Rogers ville  on  the  pth  to  accumulate  sup- 
plies. Up  to  this  date  it  had  not  been  our  General's 
intention  to  stay  in  the  Tennessee  Valley.  He  was 
looking  eastward,  but  more  hopefully  toward  some 
combinations  and  increase  of  force  by  which  a  pow- 
erful demonstration  could  be  made  into  Kentucky 
through  Cumberland  Gap.  But  at  Rogersville  the 
foraging  officers  brought  in  roseate  reports  of  plenty 
in  the  land.  It  appeared  to  be  overflowing  with  sub- 
sistence for  any  army;  cattle,  swine,  corn,  sorghum, 
and  honey  were  abundant,  and  it  was  decided  we 
should  winter  in  these  beautiful  valleys,  watered  by  the 
Holston,  the  French  Broad,  the  mouth  of  Chucky  and 
Nolachucky.  Truly  was  it  a  fertile  and  smiling  land 
to  be  still  showing  all  this  abundance,  ravaged  and 
harried  as  it  had  been  alternately  by  Union  and  Con- 
federate forces,  and  with  such  a  population !  It  could 
well  be  said  that  "  Only  man  was  vile." 

General  Longstreet  in  his  book,  "  Manassas  to  Ap- 
pomattox,"  has  written  up  his  movements  from  the 
time  he  left  Bragg  to  that  of  leaving  Tennessee,  at 
great  length  and  with  extreme  particularity.  Its  re- 
cital had  apparently  occupied  him  more  than  any  part 
of  the  four  years'  war.  We  may  therefore  well  leave 
these  details;  they  are  correctly  stated,  although  with- 
out the  interest  of  a  successful  campaign.  We  turn 
therefore  to  matters  more  general,  but  perhaps  attract- 
ive, of  our  doings  in  that  country. 

There  was  occasional  skirmishing  and  outpost  fight- 
ing, but  nothing  of  importance.  At  the  affair  of 
Bean's  Station  we  expected  to  accomplish  something, 
but  little  came  of  it.  Gradually  a  good  force  had 
been  assembled  at  scattered  points  under  Longstreet's 


214  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  A 

orders,  and  he  was  most  confident  and  eager  for  an 
opportunity  to  deal  the  enemy  a  blow.  President 
Davis,  on  December  loth,  gave  him  discretionary 
authority  over  all  the  troops  in  the  department,  and 
on  this  he  held,  for  the  present,  Martin's  cavalry  by 
him,  that  Bragg  had  called  for.  It  was  positively  nec- 
essary for  holding  East  Tennessee,  which  seemed  the 
best  possible  use  to  make  of  the  troops  while  Bragg' s 
army  was  in  a  state  of  demoralization  and  uncer- 
tainty. 

Indeed,  in  the  published  annals  there  is  appearance 
of  intense  uneasiness  by  Halleck  and  Mr.  Lincoln 
as  to  Longstreet's  presence  in  Tennessee.  The  em- 
phatic tone  of  many  letters  and  orders  from  the  Fed- 
eral capital  was  that  we  should,  under  any  circum- 
stances and  apparently  at  any  sacrifices,  be  driven 
out.  Our  presence  there  took  the  form  of  a  politi- 
cal peril.  As  long  as  we  had  a  good  foothold  and 
a  good  army  in  reach  of  Cumberland  Gap  there  was 
the  chance  of  a  successful  movement  into  Kentucky, 
and  once  there  that  State  "would  have  been  in  an  un- 
pleasant and  dangerous  attitude  to  the  Federals.  Its 
Confederate  sentiments  were  in  parts  still  strong  and 
shared  by  large  numbers  of  the  population.  Long- 
street's  correspondence  always  took  a  squint  at  such 
an  eventuality,  and  nothing  would  have  better  pleased 
him  than  to  lead  such  a  movement.  But  the  winter 
coming  on  sharp,  we  found  camps  in  the  great  forest 
about  Morristown  before  Christmas  and  began  collec- 
tion of  food  supplies  in  earnest. 

The  men  were  happy  and  cheerful,  but  awfully  in 
want  of  clothing  and  shoes.  Some  of  the  latter  were 
made  by  themselves,  but  this  supply  could  not  go  far. 
I  recall  a  movement  against  General  Granger  at  Dan- 


CONFEDERATE  STAFF  OFFICER      215 

dridge  when  the  corps  turned  out  to  march.  It  was 
bitter  winter  weather,  the  ground  hard  and  sharp  with 
ice,  and  not  less  than  2,000  of  our  little  army  were 
without  shoes.  Their  bleeding  feet  left  marks  at  every 
step. 

They  were  useless  for  the  work  and  quickly  sent 
back  to  camp.  Not  long  after,  however,  all  were 
made  happy  by  a  shipment  of  three  thousand  pairs 
of  shoes  by  General  Lawton,  our  Quartermaster-Gen- 
eral. He  had  listened  to  our  earnest,  almost  desperate 
appeals. 

About  the  middle  of  December,  Major-General 
McLaws  wTas  relieved  from  command  of  his  division 
by  Lieutenant-General  Longstreet  and  ordered  to 
Augusta,  Georgia.  Part  of  the  correspondence  con- 
cerning this  matter  will  be  found  in  the  Appendix, 
sufficiently  explanatory.  The  commanding  General 
had  for  some  time  been  dissatisfied  with  his  second 
in  command.  Later  on,  at  Greenville,  McLaws  had 
the  court  of  inquiry  for  which  he  at  once  applied. 
The  charges  were  three  in  number,  principally  alleg- 
ing neglect  and  want  of  preparation  at  Knoxville, 
supported  each  by  one  specification.  The  court  ab- 
solved McLaws  from  all  fault,  but  found  him  guilty 
on  one  of  the  specifications.  The  proceedings  went 
to  the  President,  who  immediately  disapproved  them, 
restored  McLaws  to  duty,  and  assigned  him  to  a  com- 
mand in  Georgia. 

General  E.  M.  Law  handed  in  his  resignation  and 
asked  leave  of  absence  on  it  —  this  about  December 
2Oth.  It  was  cheerfully  granted,  and  then  General 
Law  asked  the  privilege  of  taking  the  resignation 
himself  to  Richmond.  It  was  unusual,  but  was  al- 
lowed. From  this  afterwards  grew  serious  complica- 


2i6  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  A 

tions,  involving  Law's  arrest  by  Longstreet,  his  sup- 
port by  the  Executive,  and  Longstreet' s  threat  of 
resignation  from  the  army,  in  which  he  was  upheld 
by  General  Lee.  And  the  Lieutenant-General  had  his 
way.  Law  was  not  again  in  Longstreet's  command. 

The  cold  was  intense,  the  record  showing  the  lowest 
temperature  for  many  years.  During  the  last  days 
of  1863  the  glass  went  down  to  zero  and  the  entire 
army  was  quiet  in  the  effort  to  keep  warm. 

Fortunately  there  was  fuel  in  abundance.  The 
primeval  forests  of  oak  and  hickory  were  food  for 
some  of  the  grandest  campfires  ever  seen,  but  we 
froze  in  front  while  scorching  in  back,  and  vice  versa. 
And  as  to  sleeping,  many  a  fine  fellow  woke  to  find 
his  shoes  crisp  from  the  too  generous  blaze.  At  this 
time  the  roads  were  so  bad  as  to  be  almost  impassable ; 
artillery  and  wagons  would  be  drawn  hub  deep.  The 
artillery  horses,  Leyden's  especially,  were  in  bad  con- 
dition, very  weak,  and  six  or  eight  pairs  would  be 
hitched  to  a  single  gun  or  caisson.  It  amused  the  in- 
fantry footing  it  on  the  side  paths,  and  they  would  call 
out,  "  Here  comes  the  cavalry,  but  what's  that  gun 
tied  to  the  tail  for?" 

The  people  of  these  valleys  made  an  interesting 
study.  They  doubtless  went  through  much  during  the 
Civil  War,  and  part  of  their  disposition  at  the  period 
of  our  occupation  may  be  accounted  for.  There  were, 
of  course,  some  exceptions  to  be  found  in  families  of 
wealth,  intelligence,  and  breeding,  but  the  general  run 
of  people  was  hard  in  the  extreme.  Apparently  they 
were  without  pity  or  compassion  —  generosity  and 
sympathy  were  strangers  to  them;  but  hatred  and 
revenge  made  their  homes  in  the  breasts  of  these  farm- 
ers. 


CONFEDERATE  STAFF  OFFICER      217 

When  the  Confederates  came  on  the  ground,  then 
was  the  time  for  acts  of  brutality  against  their  Union 
neighbors,  the  political  feeling  in  the  valleys  being 
about  equally  divided.  Burnings,  hangings,  whippings 
were  common  —  all  acts  of  private  vengeance  and  re- 
taliation. When  the  turn  came  and  the  Unionists 
were  in  authority,  Confederate  sympathizers  were 
made  to  suffer  in  the  same  way,  and  so  it  went  on 
throughout  the  bloody  strife. 

Once  an  old  woman  came  to  my  quarters  with  a 
request.  She  was  a  fierce,  hard  creature,  strong,  of 
wrinkled  skin,  but  set,  relentless  features,  clothed  in 
the  homespun  worn  by  all,  and  like  all,  dipping  snuff. 
Stick  in  mouth  she  made  her  statement.  Some  men 
had  come  to  her  house  that  morning  —  she  knew  them 
name  by  name.  They  had  taken  her  old  man  from 
her  and  hung  him  to  a  tree  by  his  own  porch,  and 
there  left  him  —  dead.  She  wanted  the  murderers 
caught  and  punished.  Not  a  word  of  sorrow  or  soft- 
ness, not  a  tear  of  regret,  but  only  vengeance,  and 
that  instantly.  I  immediately  sent  a  good  troop  of 
cavalry  to  seize  the  men,  if  to  be  found,  but  little 
hoped  it.  They  had,  as  usual,  taken  refuge  in  the 
mountains,  quite  inaccessible  to  ordinary  attack,  and 
were  safe  there  with  numbers  of  others. 

These  mountain  fastnesses  were  filled  with  evil- 
doers of  both  sides,  Union  and  Confederate;  mur- 
derers, thieves,  deserters  —  all  crimes  could  there  be 
known. 

The  authorities  had  found  it  quite  impossible  to 
break  up  these  formidable  gangs  by  any  ordinary 
force.  A  special  expedition  for  the  express  purpose 
would  be  necessary. 

It  was  to  these  mountains  that  a  large  body  of 


218  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  A 

deserters  from  a  North  Carolina  regiment  in  Vir- 
ginia was  making  a  little  time  back. 

A  whole  company  had  broken  away,  but  were  over- 
taken at  a  crossing  of  the  James  above  Richmond. 
They  showed  fight  and  killed  several  of  the  pursuers, 
but  were  taken  back  and  the  leaders  tried  by  court 
martial.  Ten  were  convicted  and  sentenced  to  be  shot. 
There  had  been  too  much  leniency,  and  General  Lee 
had  the  sentence  executed.  The  unfortunates  were 
tied  to  small  sunken  crosses  in  line  about  ten  feet 
apart,  with  a  firing  party  in  front  of  each.  Their 
division,  Major-General  Edward  Johnson's,  was 
drawn  up  in  three  sides  of  a  hollow  square,  the  de- 
serters being  on  the  fourth.  At  the  word  the  firing 
was  accurately  executed  and  the  men  sank  dead  or 
dying  at  their  stakes.  The  division  was  then  marched 
by,  close  to  their  bodies,  and  it  was  hoped  the  lesson 
would  be  salutary. 

General  Grant  made  a  visit  to  Knoxville  about  Jan- 
uary ist,  General  Foster  in  command.  Before  leaving 
he  ordered  Foster  to  expel  us  from  Tennessee,  if  not 
altogether,  at  least  beyond  Bull's  Gap  and  Red  Bridge. 
Washington  was  still  uneasy  and  pressing  him  hard  to 
put  us  out  of  the  way. 

Preparing  for  it,  he  ordered  the  Ninth  and  the 
Twenty-third  Corps  to  Mossy  Creek,  Fourth  Corps 
to  Strawberry  Plain  and  the  cavalry  to  Dandridge  — 
a  formidable  force.  That  army  moved  about  January 
1 5th.  Dandridge  is  on  the  French  Broad  River,  about 
thirty  miles  from  Knoxville,  and  was  the  enemy's  ob- 
jective. 

General  Foster  was  invalided,  and  Sheridan  for  a 
short  time  took  command  until  relieved  by  the  corps 
commander,  Gordon  Granger.  A  smart  affair  en- 


CONFEDERATE  STAFF  OFFICER      219 

sued,  General  Martin's  cavalry  doing  our  principal 
work.  Granger  retired  and  Longstreet  rode  into 
Dandridge  and  was  soon  in  the  house  occupied  by 
his  old  friend  Granger.  Pursuit  was  made  imprac- 
ticable by  the  condition  of  roads  and  want  of  a  bridge 
train.  Practically  nothing  was  accomplished  on  this 
trial,  and  our  troops  as  well  as  the  enemy  were  sent 
back  to  camps. 

On  February  gth  General  Schofield  took  command 
at  Knoxville  of  the  Union  army  in  East  Tennessee. 
The  pressure  on  him  continued  from  Halleck,  whose 
uneasiness  at  one  time  became  almost  uncontrollable. 
Grant  at  first  made  strong  effort  to  carry  out  these 
wishes,  but  we  were  not  moved.  Later  on  he  found 
the  field  too  far  from  his  other  operations  and  likely 
to  interrupt  plans  for  the  summer.  He  preferred 
resting  on  the  apparent  apathy  at  the  South  and  using 
his  East  Tennessee  strength  in  Virginia  and  Georgia 
where  he  should  have  full  need  for  it.  This  view  was 
to  leave  us  in  inactivity  in  East  Tennessee,  and  no 
further  serious  effort  was  made.  Longstreet  had  to 
move  east  when  he  was  refused  more  troops  for  ex- 
tended aggressive  operations  and  received  orders  for 
return  of  Martin's  cavalry  to.  Georgia.  Our  march 
was  begun  about  February  20,  1864,  and  was  not  dis- 
turbed. A  fair  position  was  found  at  Bull's  Gap, 
and  then  we  distributed  our  commands  in  good  camps 
from  the  Holston  to  the  Nolachucky. 


CHAPTER  XXIX 

AT  HOME  IN  SAVANNAH  —  SKETCHES 

Leave  of  absence  —  Visiting  home  with  Doctor  Sorrel  —  Travel- 
ing by  rail  —  Old  Savannah — Few  changes  —  Many  friends 

—  Happiness  in  meeting  them  —  Return  to  the  army  —  Long- 
street's    correspondence    with    Schofield  —  Attempt    in    same 
line  near  Richmond  with  General  Ord  —  General  Grant  de- 
clines  negotiations   for  peace  —  Andrew   Johnson's   Masonic 
paraphernalia     saved    by     Captain     Goree  —  Sketch  —  Long- 
street  at  Richmond  —  In  conference  with  President  and  Gen- 
eral   Lee  —  Without    result  —  First    corps    ordered    back    to 
Lee  —  Began  moving  late  in  April  —  Arrived  at  Mechanics- 
ville  last  of  month  —  Major-General  Field  assigned  to  com- 
mand of  Hood's  division  —  Sketch  —  Congress  votes  thanks 
to    First    Corps    (see    Appendix) — Charlottesville  —  Sketch 

—  Prices  of  various  articles. 

I  had  now  opportunity  for  yielding  to  my  father's 
pressing  urgency  to  take  leave  of  absence  and  see 
him  once  more  in  life.  I  arranged  for  thirty  days 
absence.  The  railroad  was  not  yet  fully  repaired  and 
my  nearest  station  was  about  fifteen  miles  to  ride. 
An  agreeable  medical  officer  gave  me  his  company  so 
far,  but  was  constantly  weeping  that  he  was  not  on 
his  way  "  to  see  his  dear,  beautiful  little  wife."  I 
tried  to  comfort  him  by  the  reminder  that  no  such  at- 
traction was  waiting  for  me,  but  without  success. 
He  was,  however,  braced  up  by  a  horse  trade  we  man- 
aged to  get  off,  which  as  usual  I  incline  to  think  I 
got  the  worst  of.  I  think  so  by  reason  of  a  mem- 
orandum about  horses  in  which  the  animal  then  ac- 
quired is  named  "  Deceit."  The  train  soon  reached 
Bristol,  whence  a  change  of  cars  brought  me  through 

220 


CONFEDERATE  STAFF  OFFICER      221 

Lynchburg  to  Richmond.  There  Doctor  Sorrel  met 
me,  like  myself  on  leave,  and  light-hearted  we  started 
for  home  to  see  our  dear  kith  and  kin. 

It  was  my  first  absence  from  duty  since  July  21, 
1 86 1.  Slow  railway  traveling  in  those  days  was  the 
rule  without  exception  —  gauges  not  uniform,  routes 
deviating,  and  engines  of  low  power.  The  time  was, 
I  think,  quite  three  days  between  Richmond  and 
Savannah,  traveling  day  and  night,  and  of  course  such 
luxuries  as  sleeping-cars  were  then  unknown. 

It  was  a  great  delight  to  see  home  again;  to  be 
welcomed  and  made  much  of,  after  the  stern  scenes 
of  more  than  two  years.  Our  friends  were  not  back- 
ward or  ungenerous.  Hospitalities  were  showered 
upon  us,  but  better  than  all  was  the  loving  home 
circle  of  aging  father  and  happy  young  sisters.  The 
latter,  gladdened  to  have  their  brothers  once  more 
with  them,  sang,  played,  and  danced  to  heart's  de- 
light. 

There  were  many  changes.  Only  six  companies 
had  gone  to  the  Eastern  army.  The  remainder  of  the 
very  large  forces  sent  by  the  city  was  distributed 
through  the  Western  armies  and  the  coast  defenses; 
consequently  I  had  seen  but  few  of  my  old  comrades 
and  associates  in  Virginia.  The  happiness  of  meet- 
ing many  awaited  me  in  Savannah,  and  it  will  easily 
be  imagined  what  our  talk  was  about  —  the  camp, 
the  battle,  the  march,  the  enemy,  and  our  own  com- 
mands. 

There  was  no  great  change  in  the  appearance  of 
the  town,  then  of  about  30,000  population.  Eighteen 
miles  from  the  sea,  and  beautifully  situated  on  a  high 
bluff,  it  enjoyed  a  large  commerce  and  much  lucra- 
tive business.  Shady  walks,  numerous  small  wooded 


222  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  A 

parks,  and  thousands  of  branching,  leafy  trees  made 
it  a  very  attractive  and  beautiful  little  city.  The 
rigors  of  war  had  not  yet  touched  it.  The  forts 
at  the  entrance  to  the  river  were  the  enemy's,  but 
he  had  not  yet  penetrated  to  the  city.  That  was 
preserved  for  Sherman  in  December,  from  the  West. 

The  days  slipped  by.  Our  time  was  nearly  up, 
and  with  cheerful  farewells  we  were  soon  on  our 
way  back  to  Virginia.  Dropping  my  brother,  the 
Doctor,  at  Richmond,  I  went  directly  back  to  my 
familiar  duties  with  our  army  in  its  winter  camp  in 
East  Tennessee. 

Affairs  had  been  very  quiet  within  that  thirty  days, 
and  I  was  well  satisfied  to  be  again  with  the  colors. 
My  leave  and  my  home  became,  as  it  were,  but  a 
pleasant  bit  of  dreaming. 

Not  long  after  Schofield  took  command  of  the 
Union  forces  our  Lieutenant-General  succeeded  in  get- 
ting into  a  short  correspondence  with  him.  The  Fed- 
eral commander  was  an  able  soldier,  of  liberal  views, 
from  which  Longstreet  had  hopes.  The  latter's  in- 
tentions were  commendable.  Like  most  of  us,  he 
wanted  peace  and  the  honorable  termination  of  the 
war  and  cessation  of  bloodshed.  He  felt  that  it  was 
not  to  be  accomplished  by  the  politicians.  They  had 
plunged  the  country  into  civil  war,  he  reasoned. 
They  would  be  the  last  to  bring  it  to  an  end.  The  hope 
was  that  the  generals  on  both  sides  might  give  the 
movement  such  an  impetus  that  statecraft  must  neces- 
sarily take  it  up  with  probably  good  results.  It  was 
with  this  view  that  some  letters  passed  between  Long- 
street  and  Schofield.  The  former  pressed  that  view, 
and,  assuming  the  Union  General,  like  himself,  wanted 
peace,  he  urged  a  joint  initiative  from  which  much 


CONFEDERATE  STAFF  OFFICER      223 

could  be  hoped.  It  was  illusory.  Schofield's  letter 
was  calm  and  noncommittal.  Finally  he  had  to  say 
what  was  sure  to  be  said,  that  it  was  not  his  part  to 
deal  with  such  matters,  which  were  properly  to  be 
discussed  by  the  Executive  in  Washington.  It  was 
necessarily  so.  The  military  were  not  clothed  with 
authority  for  the  purpose.  Even  the  convention  be- 
tween Sherman  and  Johnston  at  the  close  of  hostilities 
was  disapproved  and  annulled  by  the  Federal  civil 
authorities. 

The  idea,  however,  did  not  vanish  from  Long- 
street's  thoughts.  It  took  fresh  shape  later  in  front 
of  Richmond  through  General  Ord,  the  officer  imme- 
diately in  command,  as  intermediary  by  which  it  was 
hoped  a  meeting  between  Grant  and  Lee  could  be 
achieved.  General  Grant  declined  a  meeting  for  dis- 
cussion on  such  a  subject.  The  correspondence  relat- 
ing to  these  two  incidents  is  probably  to  be  found  in 
the  records  published  by  Congress,  and  should  be  inter- 
esting. I  refer  to  them  entirely  from  memory. 

While  quartered  near  Greenville  some  straggling 
soldiers  found  their  way  into  the  house  once  occupied 
by  Andrew  Johnson,  afterwards  Vice-President.  He 
was  a  Mason  of  high  degree,  and  the  emblems  and 
paraphernalia  of  the  order  were  very  numerous  in 
the  dwelling.  Our  fellows  thought  they  had  made  a 
find  of  value  and  were  about  starting  off  with  it 
when  halted  by  Captain  Goree,  A.  D.  C.  of  our  staff. 
He  had  everything  carefully  repacked  and  put  in  a 
safe  place  for  the  rightful  owner.  I  have  never 
known  whether  he  finally  recovered  them  uninjured. 

Goree  was  a  Texan  and  had  been  with  Longstreet 
from  the  beginning.  The  General  was  fortunate  in 
having  an  officer  so  careful,  observing,  and  intelli- 


224  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  A 

gent.  His  conduct  on  all  occasions  was  excellent  and 
his  intrepidity  during  exposure  in  battle  could  always 
be  counted  on.  He  was  with  the  corps  until  Appo- 
mattox,  and  then  returned  to  Texas,  where  he  occu- 
pied responsible  public  office  by  vote  of  the  people  for 
many  years.  He  enjoys  good  health  and  good  Con- 
federate memories  now  at  his  home  in  Galveston. 

About  this  time  Generals  Lee,  Johnston,  and  Long- 
street  were  called  on  by  the  Richmond  authorities  for 
suggestions  as  to  further  operations  on  a  comprehen- 
sive scale.  General  Bragg  was  in  office  as  adviser  to 
the  President.  Having  failed  in  all  field  operations, 
he  had  now  the  President's  ear  and  the  President's 
support  for  experimental  strategy.  Longstreet  sub- 
mitted an  elaborate  proposition,  having  for  its  objec- 
tive a  powerful  demonstration  in  Kentucky  by  com- 
bination with  General  Johnston's  army  and  the  even- 
tual command  of  the  State  under  Confederate 
auspices.  It  is  said  that  plan  had  General  Lee's  ap- 
proval when  submitted  to  the  President  in  counsel 
with  the  Secretary  of  War,  General  Bragg,  and  Gen- 
eral Lee.  The  proposition  was  not  accepted  and 
nothing  apparently  was  settled.  General  Lee  returned 
immediately  to  his  army  on  the  Rapidan  and  the  Lieu- 
tenant-General  set  out  for  his  headquarters  at  Green- 
ville. Feeling  himself  entitled  to  the  privilege,  he 
stopped  two  days  at  Petersburg  to  see  his  wife,  and 
to  have  his  infant  son  christened  "  Robert  Lee."  It 
appears  this  short  stop  subjected  him  to  rebuke  by  the 
President  for  loitering. 

The  country  was  now  in  wintry  weather  and  there 
was  much  snow.  Everything  went  into  quarters  that 
could  and  all  military  operations  were  suspended. 
The  second  division  of  General  Johnston's  cavalry 


CONFEDERATE  STAFF  OFFICER      225 

was  ordered  to  him  through  the  mountains  —  a  hard 
march.  It  should  be  stated  that  Johnston  was  now 
for  some  time  in  command  of  the  Army  of  Tennessee 
in  Bragg's  place.  In  the  first  half  of  April  our  com- 
mand started  back  to  join  General  Lee  on  the  Rapidan. 
It  was  made  on  cars  collected  as  fast  as  possible.  The 
troop  detrained  at  Charlottesville.  After  a  short  stop 
in  that  country,  we  began,  about  the  22d,  the  march 
to  Mechanicsville,  not  far  from  Gordonsville,  and  on 
the  last  of  the  month  had  the  happiness  to  be  reviewed 
by  our  beloved  commander,  General  Lee.  The 
troubles  in  Hood's  old  division  would,  it  was  hoped, 
be  ended.  Maj-Gen.  Charles  W.  Fields  had  been 
some  time  back  assigned  to  command  and  was  to  prove 
an  active  and  capable  commander.  He  was  an  old 
Army  man  of  much  experience  and  unquestioned 
valor.  In  the  Appendix  may  be  read  the  vote  of 
thanks  given  by  Congress  to  Lieutenant-General  Long- 
street  and  his  command. 

When  we  detrained  at  Charlottesville  I  had  the 
good  fortune  to  meet  some  most  hospitable  friends. 
Judge  William  J.  Robertson,  eminent  on  the  bench, 
and  his  charming  wife  insisted  on  having  me  in  their 
handsome  residence  and  agreeable  family  circle.  It 
was  a  welcome  contrast  to  the  asperities  of  a  winter 
campaign  in  East  Tennessee.  The  town  itself  was 
interesting  and  full  of  Virginia  historic  lore.  Its 
chief  pride  is  the  Alma  Mater  of  many  Southern  men, 
the  University  of  Virginia,  beloved  of  Jefferson. 
Near  by,  on  steep  Monticello,  stands  his  own  house, 
where  youth  and  age,  in  admiration  of  the  sage,  the 
statesman,  the  philosopher,  sought  him  for  a  word, 
a  touch  of  the  hand.  The  property  is  still  well  main- 
tained by  its  present  owner,  proud  of  its  history  as 


226  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  A 

part  of  Thomas  Jefferson.  The  county  of  Albemarle 
(its  deep  red-clay  soil  remembered  by  many  a  sore- 
footed  soldier),  is  of  ancient  settlement,  abounding  in 
wood  and  meadow  and  shining  streams.  Its  tasty, 
luscious  pippins  are  widely  known  to  lovers  of  the 
apple.  Some  stately  old  residences,  the  "  great 
houses  "  of  large  estates  of  the  early  Virginia  fam- 
ilies, are  still  to  be  seen;  but  alas!  the  ravages  of  war 
and  its  bitter  results  have  left  such  properties  but  as 
so  many  reminders  of  an  opulent  past.  It  was  this 
delightful  resting  place  of  a  few  days  that  we  were 
now  to  leave  for  the  great  campaign  of  the  Wilderness 
and  its  subsequent  battles. 

In  April,  1864,  the  Confederacy  had  reached  a  point 
of  great  financial  embarrassment,  as  shown  by  the  de- 
preciation of  its  paper  currency.  The  pay  of  the  of- 
ficers was  in  reality  a  pittance,  and  those  without 
other  resources  were  often  in  straits.  Many  boxes 
and  hampers,  however,  came  to  the  camps  from  home 
and  were  of  some  help  to  all. 

A  petition  from  officers  in  the  field  had  gone  to  the 
War  Department,  asking  that  rations  might  be  issued 
to  them  as  to  the  private  soldiers.  It  had  attached  a 
scale  of  prices  charged  the  officers  by  the  army  com- 
missaries, presumably  the  average  cost  price,  and  not 
the  price  of  retail  market.  The  officers  paid  for 
bacon,  $2.20  per  pound;  beef,  75  cents;  lard,  $2.20 
per  pound;  molasses,  $6  per  gallon;  sugar,  $1.50  per 
pound.  A  coat  cost  $350;  boots,  $250;  trousers, 
$125;  hat,  $80  to  $125;  shirt,  $50;  socks,  $10  per 
pair.  General  Johnston  in  approving  and  verifying 
the  petition  said  that  at  existing  prices  the  pay  of  com- 
pany officers  was  worth  less  than  that  of  a  private 
soldier. 


CONFEDERATE  STAFF  OFFICER      227 

The  shrinkage  of  the  value  of  our  paper  currency 
continued  with  the  progress  of  the  war  until,  near  the 
close,  it  almost  ceased  to  have  any  purchasing  power 
whatever. 


CHAPTER  XXX 
BATTLE  OF  THE  WILDERNESS,  MAY  6,   1864. 

General  Grant  in  command  of  all  the  Union  forces  —  Takes 
station  with  Army  of  the  Potomac  —  His  career  —  His  suc- 
cesses —  Later  kind  feelings  of  Southern  people  toward  him 
—  His  dinner  party  at  Savannah  —  His  plan  of  campaign  — 
The  policy  of  attrition  —  Grant  moves  his  army  —  The  Wil- 
derness —  Disparity  of  numbers  —  Courier  service  an  exam- 
ple of  our  economy  in  men  —  Kershaw  promoted  major-gen- 
eral, commanding  McLaws's  division  —  Sketch  —  Lee  decides 
to  strike  —  Grant  on  the  march  —  They  meet  on  May  5th  — 
An  indecisive  partial  contest  —  Early  on  May  6  Longstreet 
comes  up  —  Finds  situation  serious  —  Hancock's  successful 
attack  on  Third  Corps  —  It  is  checked  —  Our  flank  attack 
on  Hancock's  left  —  He  is  rolled  up  and  sent  back  —  Gen- 
eral Lee  wants  to  lead  troops  —  Longstreet  wounded  and 
Jenkins  killed  by  fire  of  our  own  men  —  Major-General 
Wadsworth,  U.  S.  A.,  killed  —  Attack  resumed  later  —  Not 
successful  —  Night  ends  long  day's  fighting. 

The  Army  of  Northern  Virginia  was  now  to  deal 
with  a  new  force  —  a  general  with  the  great  prestige 
of  repeated  victories  in  the  West,  and  of  undeniable 
ability.  Lieutenant-General  U.  S.  Grant  had  been 
made  Commander-in-Chief  of  all  the  Federal  armies 
in  the  field,  and  realizing  the  extraordinary  achieve- 
ments of  Lee's  army,  left  the  scene  of  his  operations, 
and  retaining  Meade  in  command  of  the  Army  of 
the  Potomac,  took  his  station  by  that  army  for  the 
supreme  direction  of  military  affairs.  Grant's  career 
was  wonderful ;  were  it  not  a  fact,  it  would  be  thought 
a  fairy  tale.  A  West  Point  graduate  of  mediocrity, 
serving  well  in  Mexico,  but  so  given  over  to  drink 
that  his  retirement  from  the  Army  may  be  said  to 

228 


CONFEDERATE  STAFF  OFFICER      229 

have  been  compulsory.  This  was  followed  by  hard- 
working attempts  to  make  a  living  for  his  family,  in 
humble  occupations,  until  the  stirring  events  of  1861 
brought  him  forward,  as  they  did  every  one  who  had 
enjoyed  the  opportunity  of  a  soldier's  education.  Ob- 
taining command  of  an  Illinois  regiment,  his  field 
service  began,  and  was  followed  up  with  much  suc- 
cess; until,  placed  in  command  of  important  armies 
in  Tennessee  and  Kentucky,  he  was  able  to  break  up 
the  Confederate  plans,  and  finally,  by  his  crushing  de- 
feat of  Bragg  at  Missionary  Ridge,  prepared  the  way 
for  Hood's  destruction  at  Franklin  and  Nashville,  and 
Sherman's  "  march  to  the  sea." 

Now  came  his  work  in  Virginia,  which  is  to  be 
touched  on,  and  then  his  Presidency  for  two  terms. 
During  much  of  this  time  he  was  said  to  be  intem- 
perate, but  if  true  it  made  no  difference  in  the  results 
accomplished.  Mr.  Lincoln  was  thought  to  be  look- 
ing up  Grant's  brand  of  whiskey  for  some  of  his 
other  generals.  This  General's  character  made  him 
very  dear  to  his  friends.  He  was  always  true  and 
helpful  to  them,  and  possessed  a  certain  directness 
and  simplicity  of  action  that  was  in  itself  most 
attractive. 

General  Grant's  conduct  toward  our  leader  in  the 
closing  scenes  at  Appomattox  and  his  vigorous  de- 
fense of  Lee  when  threatened  by  unprincipled  and 
powerful  Northern  politicians  are  not  likely  to  be  for- 
gotten by  the  Southern  people.  With  the  passing  of 
time  his  fame  as  a  great  commander  appears  to  be 
growing,  and  will  probably  still  grow  after  careful 
study  of  his  campaigns.  Only  once  did  I  have  the 
opportunity  of  meeting  this  remarkable  man.  It  was 
during  the  "  third  term "  plans  of  the  Republican 


230  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  A 

party  that  his  friends  were  carrying  him  on  visits  to 
various  parts  of  the  country.  He  was  in  Savannah 
with  Sheridan  and  others  for  a  few  days  and  was  en- 
tertained at  a  handsome  dinner-party,  of  some  dozen 
or  more  leading  gentlemen  of  the  city,  by  General 
Henry  R.  Jackson,  a  wealthy  and  prominent  Demo- 
cratic citizen.  He  was  himself  a  marked  personality 
—  a  lawyer  of  eminence;  had  been  Minister  to  Austria 
under  Buchanan;  was  to  be  Minister  to  Mexico  under 
Cleveland;  was  a  poet  and  an  orator,  besides  of  the 
highest  character,  attainments,  and  social  attractions. 
The  dinner  was  a  great  success.,  served  lavishly  in  the 
old  Southern  fashion,  with  various  courses  of  wine, 
which  the  rough  Sheridan  brusquely  put  aside.  "  He 
wanted  champagne,  must  have  it  at  once."  And  he 
did  have  it  from  start  to  finish. 

Grant  was  in  excellent  form,  looked  well  and  talked 
well ;  his  glass  was  not  touched.  Fresh  from  his  tour 
around  the  world  he  had  much  to  say.  He  had  been 
deeply  interested  in  Japan  and  talked  incisively  of 
that  wonderful  country,  really  a  monologue  of  a  full 
hour,  the  table  intent  and  absorbed  in  the  fresh  ob- 
servations that  fell  from  him.  Then  it  became  time 
for  his  departure  to  meet  a  public  appointment,  and  we 
rose  to  bow  him  out.  Resuming  our  seats  and  atten- 
tion to  the  old  Madeiras,  we  agreed  that  for  a  silent 
man  Grant  was  about  the  most  interesting  one  we  had 
recently  found.  His  talk  was  clean-cut,  simple,  direct, 
and  clear. 

The  General-in-Chief  made  his  headquarters  near 
Culpeper.  The  Army  of  the  Potomac  was  about 
130,000  strong  in  aggregate,  and  consisted  of  Han- 
cock's Second  Corps,  Warren's  Fifth,  and  Sedgwick's 
Sixth;  besides  Burnside's  Ninth,  held  apart  near  Rap- 


CONFEDERATE  STAFF  OFFICER      231 

pahannock  railroad  bridge.  Lee's  army  lay  west  of 
the  Rapidan,  R.  H.  Anderson's  division  facing  Mad- 
ison Court  House;  the  Second  and  Third  Corps 
(Swell's  and  Hill's),  two  divisions  of  the  First  and 
Alexander's  artillery  were  at  Mechanicsville ;  Pickett's 
division  of  the  First  was  south  of  the  James.  Our 
strength  is  stated  by  Colonel  Taylor  to  have  been 
63,998. 

We  were  at  no  loss  to  understand  Grant's  inten- 
tion. The  Northern  papers,  as  well  as  himself,  had 
boldly  and  brutally  announced  the  purpose  of  "  attri- 
tion " —  that  is,  the  Federals  could  stand  the  loss  of 
four  or  five  men  to  the  Confederate's  one,  and  threw 
nice  strategy  into  the  background.  It  was  known  that 
we  were  almost  past  recruiting  our  thin  ranks,  and  the 
small  figures  of  the  army  as  it  now  stood  j  while  the 
double  numbers  of  the  Federals  could  be  reproduced 
from  the  immense  resources  in  population,  not  to 
speak  of  their  foreign  field  of  supplies  under  induce- 
ment of  liberal  bounties. 

Grant  started  his  march  the  night  of  May  3d,  via 
Germanna  and  Elys  Fords,  Wilson's  and  Gregg's 
cavalry  leading.  Burnside  was  also  ordered  to  him. 

The  Wilderness  was  a  wild,  tangled  forest  of  stunted 
trees,  with  in  places  impassable  undergrowth,  lying 
between  Fredericksburg  and  Orange  Court  House, 
probably  sixteen  or  seventeen  miles  square.  Some 
farm  clearings  and  a  shanty  or  two  for  a  few  poor  in- 
habitants might  occasionally  be  seen.  Two  principal 
roads  penetrated  this  repulsive  district,  the  Orange 
Plank  Road  and  the  turnpike.  The  ground  generally 
lay  flat  and  level. 

And  now  was  to  begin  the  last  and  greatest  of 
the  campaigns  of  the  Army  of  Northern  Virginia. 


232  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  A 

The  campaign  of  attrition  on  one  side  met  and  foiled 
by  the  fine  flower  of  the  ablest  strategy  on  the  other. 
It  was  Grant's  stubborn  perseverance,  indifferent  to 
the  loss  of  life,  against  Lee's  clear  insight  and  inces- 
sant watchfulness.  Our  army  always  ready,  ever 
fighting,  was  to  hold  the  Federal  forces  from  the  Wil- 
derness to  the  final  break  at  Petersburg,  from  May 
to  March,  ten  months  of  supreme  effort,  most  ex- 
haustive to  a  commander.  Marshall  Marmont  says, 
"  The  attacking  general  has,  to  a  large  extent,  com- 
mand of  the  mind  of  his  defensive  opponents."  It  is 
doubtless  true,  but  Lee  often  gave  his  mind  necessary 
relief  and  chanced  success  by  a  sudden  initiative 
against  Grant.  The  latter  would  unexpectedly  find 
part  of  his  army  attacked  with  swift  energy  and  would 
get  something  for  his  mind  to  work  on  besides  the 
control  of  Lee's. 

Referring  to  the  disparity  of  numbers,  we  did  in 
truth  want  men.  A  little  detail  will  show  how  we 
had  to  economize  them.  Until  recently  there  had 
been  small  cavalry  details  at  general  headquarters  and 
with  corps  and  division  chiefs.  These,  however,  were 
all  sent  back  to  serve  with  the  regimental  colors,  and 
the  courier  service  they  had  been  doing  taken  up  by 
assignments  of  men  from  the  infantry  ranks  who 
could  keep  themselves  mounted. 

Six  were  allowed  for  corps  headquarters,  four  for 
divisions,  and  two  for  brigades.  Being  picked  men, 
the  service  was  well  performed;  but  the  time  was 
not  far  off  when  these  able  men  had  again  to  take 
up  their  muskets  by  their  colors.  Disabled  fellows 
who  could  ride  but  did  no  marching  were  put  at  the 
important  courier  duties  and  did  well!  The  enemy 


CONFEDERATE  STAFF  OFFICER     233 

said  we  were  robbing  the  cradle  and  the  grave,  and 
it  was  more  or  less  true. 

Maj.-Gen.  J.  B.  Kershaw,  a  lawyer  from  South 
Carolina,  was  one  of  the  most  distinguished  and  effi- 
cient officers  of  the  Virginia  army.  His  service  had 
been  long  and  uninterrupted.  Coming  out  with  a  fine 
South  Carolina  regiment  among  the  first  to  be  sent  to 
Virginia,  his  abilities  soon  made  him  its  colonel.  He 
served  long  in  that  rank,  his  steady  courage  and  mili- 
tary aptitude  invariably  showing  handsomely  in  the 
arduous  service  of  his  regiment. 

It  was  one  of  those  forming  the  South  Carolina 
Brigade  of  McLaws's  division.  Longstreet  was  quick 
to  perceive  Kershaw's  merit  and  recommended  him 
for  promotion.  It  was  sometime  coming.  But  when 
he  was  brigadier-general  and  placed  in  command  of 
the  brigade  he  maintained  his  high  reputation  fully. 
In  1864  he  was  promoted  to  be  major-general,  and 
continuing  his  service  with  Longstreet's  corps,  his 
conduct  and  abilities  were  conspicuous  until  the  very 
end  of  hostilities.  General  Kershaw  was  of  most  at- 
tractive appearance,  soldierly  and  handsome,  of  me- 
dium size,  well  set  up,  light  hair  and  moustache,  with 
clean-cut,  high-bred  features. 

Grant's  movement  was  soon  made  known  to  Lee, 
and  the  latter  prepared  to  strike.  It  was  his  way, 
he  waited  not  for  the  blow ;  better  give  it,  was  a  large 
part  of  his  strategy.  It  was  thought  Grant  could  best 
be  met  by  a  stroke  as  he  marched.  The  Second  and 
Third  Corps  were  ordered  forward  by  the  Plank 
Road.  Our  own  two  divisions,  Field's  and  Kershaw's, 
the  latter  commanding  in  McLaws's  place,  and  Alex- 
ander's batteries  were  near  Gordonsville  and  ordered 
to  move  by  the  Plank  Road  to  Parker's  Store.  The 


234  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  A 

route  was  changed  at  General  Longstreet's  request, 
and  he  found  a  good  guide  in  James  Robinson,  well 
known  to  our  Quartermaster  Taylor,  who  lived  at 
Orange  Court  House.  We  were  at  Richard's  shop 
at  5  p.  m.  on  May  5th,  Rosser's  cavalry  then  being 
engaged  at  that  point  with  part  of  Sheridan's;  the 
latter  moving  off  when  we  came  up.  The  march  had 
been  twenty-eight  miles,  and  there,  orders  from  the 
Commanding  General  were  received  for  changing  di- 
rection so  as  to  unite  with  other  troops  on  the  Plank 
Road.  Directions  conforming  were  issued  to  resume 
march  at  midnight. 

Both  armies  being  now  in  quick  motion,  the  col- 
lision was  soon  to  come;  indeed,  had  already  come 
with  Heth's  and  Wilcox's  divisions,  ending  late  that 
night  after  fierce  battle.  I  make  no  attempt  at  detail 
of  all  Confederate  and  Union  movements,  but  the 
great  battle  of  the  Wilderness  is  now  to  be  fought 
and  the  important  part  in  it  taken  by  the  First  Army 
Corps  briefly  sketched. 

Strange  to  say,  the  two  divisions  of  our  Third 
Corps,  Heth's  and  Wilcox's,  after  their  severe  battle 
made  no  attempt  at  defensive  field  work  or  trench- 
ing when  firing  ceased  that  night.  In  explanation,  it 
is  said  they  expected  to  be  withdrawn  and  conse- 
quently did  no  work  nor  replenished  their  ammuni- 
tion. But  Hancock,  accomplished  general  that  he  was, 
suffered  himself  to  fall  into  no  such  pit.  He  had  his 
men  at  work  all  night  strengthening  his  position,  and 
was  thus  enjoying  the  soldier's  high  feeling  of  confi- 
dence ;  and  then  with  the  sun  he  let  fly  at  the  troops  in 
front  of  him,  apparently  inviting  attack  with  no 
ground  defenses  whatever.  It  was  distressing  to  real- 


CONFEDERATE  STAFF  OFFICER      235 

ize  such  failure  in  the  field  work,  and  the  result  came 
near  a  great  disaster. 

Longstreet  had  moved  at  i  a.  m.,  the  march  being 
difficult  and  slow  in  the  dense  forest  by  side  tracks 
and  deep  furrowed  roadways.  At  daylight  he  was  on 
the  Plank  Road  and  in  close  touch  with  Lee  when 
Hancock  struck  the  two  unprepared  divisions.  The 
situation  when  we  came  on  the  scene,  that  of  May  6th, 
was  appalling.  Fugitives  from  the  broken  lines  of 
the  Third  Corps  were  pouring  back  in  disorder  and  it 
looked  as  if  things  were  past  mending.  But  not  so  to 
James  Longstreet;  never  did  his  great  qualities  as  a 
tenacious,  fighting  soldier  shine  forth  in  better  light. 
He  instantly  took  charge  of  the  battle,  and  threw  his 
two  divisions  across  the  Plank  Road,  Kershaw  on 
the  right,  Field  on  the  left.  None  but  seasoned  sol- 
diers like  the  First  Corps  could  have  done  even  that 
much.  I  have  always  thought  that  in  its  entire  splen- 
did history  the  simple  act  of  forming  line  in  that  dense 
undergrowth,  under  heavy  fire  and  with  the  Third 
Corps  men  pushing  to  the  rear  through  the  ranks,  was 
perhaps  its  greatest  performance  for  steadiness  and 
inflexible  courage  and  discipline.  Hill's  men  were 
prompt  to  collect  and  reform  in  our  rear  and  soon 
were  ready  for  better  work.  General  Lee  was  under 
great  excitement  immediately  on  the  left.  He  wanted 
to  lead  some  of  our  troops  into  action,  but  the  Texas 
brigade  was  about  him  and  swore  they  would  do  noth- 
ing unless  he  retired.  A  confident  message  from 
Longstreet  through  Colonel  Venable  that  his  line 
would  be  restored  within  an  hour  also  helped  him  to 
regain  his  calm;  and  then  at  it  we  went  in  earnest, 
on  both  sides  of  the  road.  Hancock's  success  had 


236  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  A 

loosened  his  ranks  somewhat,  which  helped  us  when 
we  fell  on  him.  It  was  a  hard  shock  of  battle  by  six 
of  our  brigades,  three  on  each  side  of  the  road.  No 
artillery  came  into  play,  the  ground  not  being  fit  for 
it.  The  enemy's  advance  was  checked,  then  wavered, 
and  finally  relinquished;  our  troops  pushing  forward 
into  the  recovered  lines.  Longstreet  had  redeemed 
his  promise  to  his  commander.  Meantime  sharp 
work  had  also  been  going  on  at  the  left  by  Lieutenant- 
General  Ewell  —  the  never  sleeping  Ewell  —  and  the 
prospects  were  bright. 

R.  H.  Anderson,  with  Hill's  corps,  had  come  up 
and  reported  to  Longstreet,  who  posted  part  of  it 
on  the  right.  Latrobe,  of  our  staff,  had  received  pain- 
ful wounds  in  the  thigh  and  hand,  in  this  fight,  while 
pushing  the  men  forward.  It  had  taken  several  hours 
to  achieve  this  and  a  slight  pause  in  the  activities  of 
the  armies  occurred.  Gen.  M.  L.  Smith,  an  engineer 
from  General  Headquarters,  had  reported  to  Long- 
street  and  examined  the  situation  on  our  right,  where 
he  discovered  the-  enemy's  left  somewhat  exposed  and 
inviting  attack;  and  now  came  our  turn.  General 
Longstreet,  calling  me,  said :  "  Colonel,  there  is  a  fine 
chance  of  a  great  attack  by  our  right.  If  you  will 
quickly  get  into  those  woods,  some  brigades  will  be 
found  much  scattered  from  the  fight.  Collect  them 
and  take  charge.  Form  a  good  line  and  then  move, 
your  right  pushed  forward  and  turning  as  much  as 
possible  to  the  left.  Hit  hard  when  you  start,  but 
don't  start  until  you  have  everything  ready.  I  shall 
be  waiting  for  your  gun  fire,  and  be  on  hand  with 
fresh  troops  for  further  advance." 

No  greater  opportunity  could  be  given  to  an  aspir- 
ing young  staff  officer,  and  I  was  quickly  at  work. 


CONFEDERATE  STAFF  OFFICER      237 

The  brigades  of  Anderson,  Mahone,  and  Wofford 
were  lined  up  in  fair  order  and  in  touch  with  each 
other.  It  was  difficult  to  assemble  them  in  that  hor- 
rid Wilderness,  but  in  an  hour  we  were  ready.  The 
word  was  given,  and  then  with  heavy  firing  and  ring- 
ing yells  we  were  upon  Hancock's  exposed  left,  the 
brigades  being  ably  commanded  by  their  respective 
officers.  It  was  rolled  back  line  after  line.  I  was 
well  mounted,  and  despite  the  tangled  growth  could 
keep  with  our  troops  in  conspicuous  sight  of  them, 
riding  most  of  the  charge  with  Mahone's  men  and 
the  Eighteenth  Virginia.  Some  correspondence  will 
be  found  in  the  Appendix  about  it.  A  stand  was  at- 
tempted by  a  reserve  line  of  Hancock's,  but  it  was 
swept  off  its  feet  in  the  tumultuous  rush  of  our  troops, 
and  finally  we  struck  the  Plank  Road  lower  down. 
On  the  other  side  of  it  was  Wadsworth's  corps  in  dis- 
order. (I  had  last  seen  him  under  flag  of  truce  at 
Fredericksburg. )  Though  the  old  General  was  ,  do- 
ing all  possible  to  fight  it,  his  men  would  not  stay. 
A  volley  from  our  pursuing  troops  brought  down  the 
gallant  New  Yorker,  killing  both  rider  and  horse. 

There  was  still  some  life  left  in  the  General,  and 
every  care  was  given  him  by  our  surgeon.  Before 
they  could  get  to  him,  however,  some  of  his  valuables 
—  watch,  sword,  glasses,  etc. —  had  disappeared 
among  the  troops.  One  of  the  men  came  up  with, 
"  Here,  Colonel,  here's  his  map."  It  was  a  good  gen- 
eral map  of  Virginia,  and  of  use  afterwards.  We 
were  then  so  disorganized  by  the  chase  through  the 
woods  that  a  halt  was  necessary  to  reform,  and  I 
hastened  back  to  General  Longstreet  to  press  for  fresh 
troops.  There  was  no  need  with  him.  He  had  heard 
our  guns,  knew  what  was  up,  and  was  already  march- 


238  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  A 

ing,  happy  at  the  success,  to  finish  it  with  the  eager 
men  at  his  heels. 

There  was  quite  a  party  of  mounted  officers  and 
men  riding  with  him  —  Generals  Kershaw  and  Jen- 
kins, the  staff,  and  orderlies.  Jenkins,  always  enthu- 
siastic, had  thrown  his  arm  about  my  shoulder,  with, 
"  Sorrel,  it  was  splendid ;  we  shall  smash  them  now." 
And  turning  back  I  was  riding  by  Longstreet's  side, 
my  horse's  head  at  his  crupper,  when  firing  broke 
out  from  our  own  men  on  the  roadside  in  the  dense 
tangle. 

The  Lieutenant-General  was  struck.  He  was  a 
heavy  man,  with  a  very  firm  seat  in  the  saddle,  but 
he  was  actually  lifted  straight  up  and  came  down  hard. 
Then  the  lead-torn  coat,  the  orifice  close  to  the  right 
shoulder  pointed  to  the  passage  of  the  heavy  bullet  of 
those  days.  His  staff  immediately  dismounted  him,  at 
the  foot  of  a  branching  tree,  bleeding  profusely. 

The  shot  had  entered  near  the  throat  and  he  was 
almost  choked  with  blood.  Doctor  Cullen,  his  med- 
ical director,  was  quickly  on  the  spot.  Even  then  the 
battle  was  in  the  leader's  mind,  and  he  sent  word  to 
Major-General  Field  to  go  straight  on.  He  directed 
me  to  hasten  to  General  Lee,  report  what  had  been 
accomplished,  and  urge  him  to  continue  the  movement 
he  was  engaged  on ;  the  troops  being  all  ready,  success 
would  surely  follow,  and  Grant,  he  firmly  believed, 
be  driven  back  across  the  Rapidan.  I  rode  imme- 
diately to  General  Lee,  and  did  not  again  see  my  chief 
until  his  return  to  duty  in  October.  The  fatal  firing 
that  brought  him  down  also  killed  Captain  Jenkins, 
Captain  Foley,  and  several  orderlies.  Jenkins  was  a 
loss  to  the  army  —  brave,  ardent,  experienced  and 
highly  trained,  there  was  much  to  expect  of  him. 


CONFEDERATE  STAFF  OFFICER      239 

The  firing  began  among  some  of  the  Virginia  troops 
that  had  rushed  the  attack.  Our  detour  was  such  that 
it  was  quite  possible  to  expect  the  capture  of  prisoners, 
and  when  Longstreet's  party  was  seen,  followed  by  Jen- 
kins's brigade  and  part  of  Kershaw's  command,  in  the 
shaded  light  of  the  dense  tangle,  a  shot  or  two  went 
off,  then  more,  and  finally  a  strong  fusilade.  The 
officers  of  our  party  acted  splendidly  in  the  effort  to 
avert  confusion  and  stop  the  deadly  firing.  General 
Kershaw  was  conspicuous  about  it,  and  our  signal 
officer,  Captain  J.  H.  Manning,  deliberately,  calmly 
rode  through  the  fire  up  to  the  Virginians,  holding  up 
his  hands  and  making  signs  that  we  were  friends. 
This  happened  between  twelve  and  one  o'clock.  My 
report  to  General  Lee  was,  as  instructed,  immediate. 
I  found  him  greatly  concerned  by  the  wounding  of 
Longstreet  and  his  loss  to  the  army.  He  was  most 
minute  in  his  inquiries  and  was  pleased  to  praise  the 
handling  of  the  flank  attack.  Longstreet's  message 
was  given,  but  the  General  was  not  in  sufficient  touch 
with  the  actual  position  of  the  troops  to  proceed  with 
it  as  our  fallen  chief  would  have  been  able  to  do;  at 
least,  I  received  that  impression,  because  activity  came 
to  a  stop  for  the  moment.  A  new  attack  with  stronger 
forces  was  settled  on.  It  was  to  be  made  direct  on 
the  enemy's  works,  lower  down  the  Plank  Road,  in 
the  hope  of  dislodging  him. 

But  meantime  the  foe  was  not  idle.  He  had  used 
the  intervening  hours  in  strengthening  his  position  and 
making  really  formidable  works  across  the  road. 
When  the  Confederate  troops  assaulted  them  late  in 
the  afternoon  they  met  with  a  costly  repulse,  and  with 
this  the  principal  operations  on  our  part  of  the  field 
ceased  for  the  day;  it  was  coming  on  dark. 


CHAPTER  XXXI 
COINCIDENCES  —  LONGSTREET'S  SUCCESSOR 

Longstreet  borne  from  the  field  —  His  letter  to  Lee  from  Lynch- 
burg  —  Return  of  General  Wadsworth's  map  to  his  son  — 
Coincidence  in  the  wounding  of  Jackson  and  Longstreet  — 
General  Lee  summons  me  —  Talks  of  assignment  to  com- 
mand of  First  Corps  —  He  decides  on  General  Richard  H. 
Anderson. 

General  Longstreet  was  first  taken  to  the  house 
of  his  quartermaster,  Major  Taylor,  near  by,  and 
thence,  when  he  could  be  moved,  to  Lynchburg. 
From  there  he  wrote  to  General  Lee  of  this  attack 
on  Hancock's  left  as  conducted  by  myself,  and  I  trust 
it  may  not  be  considered  out  of  place  to  insert  that 
letter  here. 

General  Longstreet's  book  has  caused  to  be 
brought  forth  quite  a  number  of  incidents  of  the  late 
war  which  that  distinguished  Confederate  necessarily 
passed  over  briefly  in  his  narrative.  In  the  battle  of 
the  Wilderness,  May  6,  1864,  Longstreet's  corps 
moved  to  the  support  of  A.  P.  Hill's  corps  early  in  the 
morning  and  checked  the  onward  movement  of  the 
enemy.  In  this  attack  General  G.  M.  Sorrel  (then 
lieutenant-colonel  and  chief  of  staff  of  General  Long- 
street),  under  the  orders  of  his  chief,  took  Mahone's, 
Wofford's  and  G.  T.  Anderson's  brigades,  and,  swing- 
ing around  to  the  right,  the  Confederates  carried  every- 
thing before  them.  For  his  gallantry  on  that  occa- 
sion, Colonel  Sorrel  was  made  a  brigadier-general  on 

240 


CONFEDERATE  STAFF  OFFICER      241 

the  recomimendation  of   General  Longstreet,   in  the 
subjoined  letter: 

LYNCHBURG,  VA.,  May  19,  1864. 
GENERAL  R.  E.  LEE,  Commanding,  etc, 

SIR:  The  peculiar  character  of  the  position  occupied  by  the 
enemy  in  my  front  on  the  6th  inst.  was  such  as  to  render  a  di- 
rect assault  impracticable.  After  a  brief  consultation  with  the 
commanding  general,  a  move  was  agreed  upon,  turning  and 
attacking  the  enemy's  left  flank.  Lieutenant-Colonel  Sorrel,  my 
chief  of  staff,  was  assigned  to  represent  me  in  this  flank  move- 
ment, with  instructions  as  to  the  execution  of  it.  The  flank 
attack,  made  by  three  brigades,  was  to  be  followed  by  a  cor- 
responding movement  of  the  other  brigades  of  the  command. 
This  attack,  made  under  the  supervision  of  Lieutenant-Colonel 
Sorrel,  was  executed  with  much  skill,  promptness,  and  address, 
and  the  enemy  was  driven  from  his  position  in  haste  and  some 
confusion. 

It  occurs  to  me  that  this  is  one  of  the  instances  of  skill,  ability 
and  gallantry  on  the  battle-field  which  should  commend  itself 
to  the  high  approval  of  the  Executive. 

I,  therefore,  take  great  pleasure  in  recommending  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  Sorrel's  promotion  to  brigadier-general  for  distinguished 
conduct  on  this  occasion.  I  should  have  reported  this  case  much 
earlier  and  asked  for  promotion  upon  the  spot,  but  that  I  was 
struck  down  by  a  painful  wound  a  few  moments  after  the  exe- 
cution of  the  movement.  I  am  still  unable  to  write  and  hence 
must  ask  the  privilege  of  signing  this  by  my  aide-de-camp. 
I  am,  General,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

(Signed.)        J.  LONGSTREET, 

Lieutenant-General. 

(Signed.)        By  T.  J.  GOREE, 
Aide-de-Camp. 

Hancock  said  long  after  to  Longstreet,  "  You  rolled 
me  up  like  a  wet  blanket  and  it  was  some  hours  be- 
fore I  could  reorganize  for  battle." 

Many  years  after  this  great  struggle  opportunity 
was  given  me  of  placing  with  Hon.  James  Wadsworth, 
M.  C.,  son  of  the  general,  the  map  before  referred 
to  as  taken  from  his  father  when  he  fell  In  making 
his  acknowledgments  it  was  gratifying  to  learn  that 
nearly  all  the  other  belongings  of  this  gallant  officer 
had  gradually,  by'  kindness  of  friends,  found  their  way 
back  into  the  family  possessions. 


242  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  A 

Some  coincidences  in  the  fall  of  Jackson  and  Long- 
street  are  not  without  interest. 

On  May  3,  1863,  Lieutenant-General  Jackson,  great 
corps  commander  of  the  Army  of  Northern  Virginia, 
was  struck  down  by  the  fire  of  his  own  men  while 
executing  a  successful  flank  movement  in  the  Wilder- 
ness at  the  battle  of  Chancellorsville.  On  May  6, 
1864,  just  one  year  later,  Lieutenant-General  Long- 
street,  the  other  great  corps  commander  of  the  Army 
of  Northern  Virginia,  was  also  struck  down  by  the 
fire  of  his  own  men  while  conducting  a  successful  flank 
movement,  and  this  on  almost  the  same  ground. 

While  one  fell  (unhappily  mortally  wounded)  at 
Chancellorsville  and  the  other  at  Wilderness,  both 
names  apply  to  that  singular  district,  and  the  two 
points  were  not  very  wide  apart. 

At  sunrise,  on  the  7th,  I  was  summoned  to  the 
Commander-in-Chief  and  promptly  reported.  Gen- 
eral Lee  received  me  most  kindly  and  at  once  with- 
drew under  a  neighboring  tree.  "  I  must  speak  to 
you,  Colonel,"  he  opened,  "  about  the  command  of 
the  First  Corps."  He  then  in  substance  went  on  to 
say  that  the  two  major-generals  of  the  corps  present 
were  too  recent  for  the  command  (Pickett  does  not 
appear  to  have  been  thought  of)  and  an  officer  must 
be  assigned.  He  had  three  in  mind:  Major-Generals 
Early,  Edward  Johnson,  and  Richard  H.  Anderson, 
and  did  me  the  honor  to  invite  my  opinion.  "  You 
have,"  he  said,  "  been  with  the  corps  since  it  started 
as  a  brigade,  and  should  be  able  to  help  me." 

At  once  I  saw  the  need  of  giving  all  the  assistance 
possible  and  that  I  must  use  every  care  in  judgment. 

Thanking  the  General  for  his  unprecedented  con- 
fidence, I  said  that  probably  Early  wtmld  be  the  ablest 


CONFEDERATE  STAFF  OFFICER      243 

commander  of  the  three  named,  but  would  also  be  the 
most  unpopular  in  our  corps.  His  flings  and  irritable 
disposition  had  left  their  marks,  and  there  had  been 
one  or  two  occasions  when  some  ugly  feelings  had 
been  aroused  while  operating  in  concert.  I  feared  he 
would  be  objectionable  to  both  officers  and  men. 
"And  now,  Colonel,  for  my  friend  Ed.  Johnson;  he 
is  a  splendid  fellow."  "  All  say  so,  General,"  was  my 
answer  —  and  I  fully  believed  it  — "  but  he  is  quite 
unknown  to  the  corps.  His  reputation  is  so  high  that 
perhaps  he  would  prove  all  that  could  be  wished,  but 
I  think  that  some  one  personally  known  to  the  corps 
would  be  perferred." 

This  brought  the  commander  to  Gen.  Richard  H. 
Anderson,  and  I  was  led  to  say,  without  presuming 
to  criticize  him  or  point  out  his  merits  or  demerits 
(there  are  probably  plenty  of  both),  "We  know  him 
and  shall  be  satisfied  with  him."  He  was  long  a  brig- 
adier with  us,  tried  and  experienced;  then  a  major- 
general  until  withdrawn  to  make  up  the  Third  Corps. 

"  Thank  you,  Colonel,"  said  General  Lee.  "  I  have 
been  interested,  but  Early  would  make  a  fine  corps 
commander."  Being  dismissed,  I  hastened  back  to 
camp,  full  of  thoughts  as  to  who  was  to  command 
us.  It  looked  from  the  General's  closing  words  as  if 
it  would  be  Early  (I  am  sure  he  preferred  him),  but 
no,  Anderson  was  the  man.  Later,  the  same  day, 
came  the  order  assigning  chivalrous,  deliberate 
"  Dick  "  Anderson  to  the  command  of  the  First  Army 
Corps  and  it  was  not  very  long  before  he  was  made 
lieutenant-general. 


CHAPTER  XXXII 

BATTLES  OF  SPOTTSYLVANIA  C.  H.,  MAY  10  AND  12, 
AND  COLD  HARBOR,  JUNE  3,  1864 

The  night's  horrors  —  The  forest  on  fire  —  Sufferings  of  the 
wounded  —  On  same  ground  May  7th  —  Anderson  in  com- 
mand of  First  Corps  —  Characteristics  — •  The  great  strategic 
contest  between  Grant  and  Lee  —  Grant  moves  for  Spottsyl- 
vania  Court  House  —  Lee  follows  in  time  —  Both  sides  en- 
trench —  Union  attack  of  loth  checked  —  Not  so  on  the 
I2th  —  Edward  Johnson's  division  suddenly  assailed  —  Is 
captured  with  guns  and  colors  — •  A  serious  loss  keenly  felt 

—  Salient    was    exposed  —  New    line    established  —  Terrific 
fire  for  its  possession  by  Gordon's   fresh  troops  —  We  hold 
the  new  ground  after  heavy  losses  —  Sedgwick  killed  on  loth 

—  Stuart,  our  cavalry  leader,  shot  on  May  12  —  General  Lee 
not   in   good    health  —  Attack   by   Grant   at   Cold   Harbor  — 
Great  slaughter  of  Union  soldiers  —  Assaults  abandoned — • 
Grant  asks  for  truce  to  bury  dead  —  Lee  in  doubt  as  to  ene- 
my's   movements  —  Grant    stole    a    march    and    nearly    had 
Petersburg  —  Saved    by    Beauregard  —  Reinforcements    and 
losses  —  An  accident  by  falling  chimney  —  Death  of  Colonel 
Edward   Willis  —  General    Hampton    assigned   to    command 
of  cavalry  —  Sketch. 

The  night  was  hideous.  The  brush  and  under- 
growth had  taken  fire  from  the  musketry  and  flames 
and  smoke  were  obscuring  everything.  The  numer- 
ous parties  out  for  burying  the  dead  and  gathering 
the  wounded  were  much  impeded  and  many  wounded 
must  have  perished,  hidden  from  sight  of  man  in 
that  awful  burnt  tangle.  These  duties  and  close 
search  continued  all  next  day. 

Our  new  commander,  General  Anderson,  took  the 
corps  early  on  the  7th,  during  which  the  armies  lay 
quiet  after  the  battle.  Grant  was  not  aggressive,  nor 
were  we.  The  Federal  commander's  reflections  may 

244 


CONFEDERATE  STAFF  OFFICER      245 

have  been  sombre.  Expecting  only  a  march,  he  had 
found  bloody  battles,  for  the  Army  of  Northern  Vir- 
ginia was  always  in  front  of  him.  On  the  other  hand, 
Lee  was  doubtless  in  the  full  gravity  of  the  immense 
responsibilities  before  him  and  his  severe  losses. 

It  was  from  now  until  June  I4th,  when  Grant 
reached  his  pontoon  bridge  over  the  James  on  his 
way  to  the  new  scene  of  action  at  Petersburg,  a  game 
to  the  death  for  the  possession  of  Richmond.  His 
able  and  powerful  movements  were  to  throw  his  army 
between  Lee  and  our  capital.  He  found  Lee  always, 
not  the  capital,  and  the  movements,  which  shall  not 
be  detailed  too  much,  were  steadily  on  that  line.  Our 
General  invariably  penetrated  his  adversary's  design 
and  objective  and  was  there  —  perhaps  in  a  hurry  and 
breathless,  but  there;  and  enough  of  us  were  ready  to 
make  necessary  another  march  of  the  Union  left. 

Following  then  his  original  plan,  Grant,  on  the 
night  of  the  7th,  made  a  rapid  flank  movement  to 
secure  Spottsylvania  Court  House.  Immediately  part 
of  our  corps  moved  with  General  Anderson  and  ar- 
rived at  the  Court  House  contemporaneously  with  the 
Northerners. 

The  march  through  the  scorched  and  smoking 
Wilderness  was  most  painful.  The  Union  men,  a 
little  advance,  had  seized  the  best  strategic  point,  but 
were  driven  off  by  our  arrival,  and  on  the  gth  we 
found  each  other  in  line  of  battle,  both  sides  entrench- 
ing wherever  they  might  stand. 

On  the  roth  the  enemy  made  a  handsome  dash  at 
Ewell's  left  and  dislodged  it,  taking  two  guns.  Gen- 
eral Lee  wanted  to  lead  for  recovery,  but  was  dis- 
suaded. The  enemy  being  attacked  was  made  to  give 
up  the  line  and  the  guns. 


246  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  A 

It  was  in  this  affair  that  Maj.-Gen.  John  Sedgwick, 
commander  of  Grant's  Sixth  Corps,  was  killed.  A 
bullet  pierced  his  head  from  a  great  distance.  He 
and  Lee  had  been  warm  friends,  and  the  latter  ex- 
pressed many  regrets. 

There  was  a  salient  on  Swell's  line,  occupied  by 
Edward  Johnson's  division,  that  Lee  rightly  consid- 
ered dangerous  to  our  security.  Another  line  across 
the  base  was  ordered  constructed  and  the  exposed  ar- 
tillery transferred  to  it.  Before  arrangements  could 
be  completed  and  before  the  artillery  could  be  pushed 
forward  again,  Johnson  was  fiercely  assailed  at  sun- 
rise on  the  1 2th  by  a  heavy  column  massed  for  the 
purpose  during  the  night.  Most  of  the  division  was 
captured,  including  Major-General  Johnson  and  Brig- 
adier-General Stewart. 

Lee's  position  instantly  became  perilous.  He  was 
cut  in  twain  and  fully  realized  it.  Good  work  was 
done  in  repairing  the  break  and  strong  bodies  of  troops 
moved  from  right  and  left  to  check  the  enemy's  fur- 
ther advance.  General  Lee  was  under  intense  anx- 
iety, plainly  evinced,  and  was  quite  on  the  point  of 
leading  his  fresh  troops  for  restoring  the  line.  Gen. 
J.  B.  Gordon,  however,  came  on  the  scene,  got  the 
General  back  in  his  right  place,  and  after  a  short, 
impassioned  address  to  the  troops,  attacked  most  vigor- 
ously with  the  other  generals.  Truly  it  was  the  center 
of  a  fire  from  hell  itself!  The  Federals  lining  the 
two  sides  of  the  captured  salient  and  the  Confederates 
at  the  base  poured  forth  a  fusilade  that  could  not  be 
exceeded.  Nothing  uncovered  could  live  in  such  a 
fire  —  trees  were  felled,  trunks  cut  by  small-arm  bul- 
lets !  The  Union  advance  was  checked,  but  we  failed 


CONFEDERATE  STAFF  OFFICER      247 

to  recover  our  first  lines  and  rested  with  a  new  one 
better  drawn. 

The  army  felt  keenly  the  loss  of  Johnson's  division 
and  guns,  but  our  lines  were  not  again  forced  in  the 
field.  Reinforcements  poured  into  the  Union  army, 
Grant  waiting  quietly  until  the  i8th  for  assembling 
them  from  Washington,  occasionally  also  doing  some 
maneuvering.  Our  own  army  was  likewise  in  quiet 
inaction,  but  unhappily  receiving  no  such  reinforce- 
ments. 

General     Anderson,    as   already   stated,    was   well 
known  to  us,  and  fell  easily  into  position  as  corps 
commander.     During  the  events  just  sketched  he  had 
shown  commendable  prudence  and  an  intelligent  com- 
prehension  of   the   work  in  hand.     He  was  a  very 
brave  man,  but  of  a  rather  inert,   indolent  manner 
for  commanding  troops  in  the  field,  and  by  no  means 
pushing  or  aggressive.     My  relations  with  him  were 
uniformly  pleasant.     He  seemed  to  leave  the  corps 
much  to  his  staff,  while  his  own  meditative  disposi-  r- 
tion  was  constantly  soothed  by  whiffs  from  a  noble,  / 
cherished  meerschaum  pipe  in  process  of  rich  color-  \ 
ing.     He  was  a  short,  thick,  stocky  figure,  with  good  j 
features     and     agreeable     expression.     I     sometimes  [ 
found  myself  sleeping  in  the  same  tent  with  him.     He  ) 
had  a  way  on  waking  of  sitting  on  his  bed  and  pro- 
ceeding to  mend  and  patch  his  belongings  out  of  a 
well-filled  tailor's  "  necessaire  "  he  always  carried  — 
clothing,    hats,    boots,    bridles,    saddles,    everything 
came  handy  to  him.     He  caught  me  once  watching 
this  work,  and  said,  smiling :     "  You  are  wondering, 
I  see ;  so  did  my  wife  when  first  married.     She  thought 
she  should  do  the  mending,  but  I  told  her  I  ought  to 
have  a  little  recreation  occasionally." 


248  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  A 

We  heard  of  Stewart's  death  near  the  Yellow  Tav- 
ern on  May  I2th.  It  caused  indescribable  feeling  in 
the  army. 

The  great  cavalry  leader  was  so  known  to  us  all, 
officers  and  men;  had  passed  through  so  much  with- 
out hurt;  his  devotion  to  Lee  Was  so  thoroughly  ap- 
preciated, and  our  sense  of  security  against  surprise 
so  confident  with  him  in  the  saddle  that  deep  was  our 
grief.  His  disposition  so  happy  and  sunny,  his  en- 
terprise so  untiring,  his  soul  so  valiant,  all  sprang  to 
our  memories.  It  was  really  after  the  battle  that  he 
fell,  by  an  outpost  bullet,  when  he  should  have  been 
safe. 

Long  years  after,  on  a  glorious  day  in  May,  Con- 
federate veterans  thronged  Richmond  to  dedicate  the 
statue  of  their  beloved  commander. 

The  flower-strewn  city  —  grim  war  having  long 
since  given  way  to  gentle  peace  —r  was  gay  with  lovely 
women  and  their  happy  smiles;  while  bright  bunting, 
our  own  starry  cross  and  the  stars  and  stripes,  con- 
spicuous with  flags  of  all  nations,  made  the  streets  a 
mass  of  flaming  color. 

It  was  as  one  of  the  marshals  that  I  was  assisting 
on  the  memorable  occasion,  and  dear  friends  at  the 
fine  old  Virginia  estate,  the  Stewart's  hospitable 
"  Brook  Hill,"  near  the  city,  had  made  me  their  guest. 
The  gracious  hostess,  growing  if  possible  more  lovely 
with  advancing  years,  recalled  from  far  back  that  his- 
toric toast  and  beauty  of  old  Virginia,  Evelyn  Byrd, 
from  whose  family  she  descended;  there  this  pictured 
chatelaine  of  Brook  Hill,  encompassed  by  accom- 
plished daughters,  dispensed  a  charming  hospitality. 

On  one  of  those  days  Miss  Stewart  drove  me  to  the 
spot  where  Stewart  fell,  about  half  way  between  their 


CONFEDERATE  STAFF  OFFICER     249 

residence  and  the  old  Yellow  Tavern.  A  small  stone 
shaffby  the  roadside  marked  it.  There  we  feelingly 
recalled  his  deeds  and  fame,  and  placed  upon  it  our 
flower  tokens.  It  was  pleasant  to  see,  too,  the  young 
people  and  children  of  the  countryside  tenderly  placing 
their  own  remembrances  on  the  hero's  column.  The 
valiant  rider  was  not  forgotten ! 

On  the  1 8th  we  sustained  on  our  lines  another  at- 
tack. It  was  easily  resisted,  and  then  Grant,  two 
days  after,  started  toward  Bowling  Green.  Lee  was 
quick  to  move  for  Hanover  Junction  and  offered  bat- 
tle there.  Grant  declining,  moved  about  May  2 5th 
on  a  detour  to  the  east  —  Lee  always  parallel  and 
Richmond  behind  him. 

Our  Commander-in-Chief  was  far  from  well  phys- 
ically. Colonel  Taylor,  his  adjutant-general,  says  the 
indisposition  was  more  serious  than  generally  sup- 
posed. Those  near  him  were  very  apprehensive  lest 
he  should  be  compelled  to  give  up.  General  Early 
writes :  "  One  of  his  three  corps  commanders  had 
been  disabled  by  wounds  at  Wilderness.  Another 
was  too  ill  to  command  his  corps,  while  he  himself 
was  suffering  from  a  most  annoying  and  weakening 
disease."  Only  his  indomitable  will  and  devotion 
could  keep  him  in  the  field.  To  them  we  owe  his 
patriotic  adherence  to  the  command  of  his  unex- 
ampled army. 

About  the  3Oth  the  Confederate  army  was  in  battle 
order  near  Atlee's  Station,  but  General  Grant  con- 
tinued his  flank  movement,  Lee  by  him,  in  an  easterly 
direction,  and  on  June  3d  the  two  armies  confronted 
each  other  at  Cold  Harbor,  the  Confederates  hastily 
entrenching,  as  usual. 

It  was  historic  ground.     We  had  fought  on  part 


250  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  A 

of  it  on  the  eventful  days  of  June  26,  27,  28,  1862. 
Here  the  Federal  commander,  weary  of  Lee  and  the 
oft-repeated  march,  made  up  his  mind  evidently  to 
finish  things.  He  attacked  us  with  the  utmost  feroc- 
ity, but  in  vain.  The  assaults  were  delivered  repeat- 
edly but  always  repulsed  with  frightful  carnage,  and 
finally  men  could  do  no  more.  The  officers  with 
drawn  swords  pointed  the  way,  but  the  men  stood  mo- 
tionless in  their  ranks,  a  silent,  effective  protest  against 
further  "attrition." 

Our  men  were  steady  in  their  field  works  and  suf- 
fered but  little  loss.  A  section  of  a  Savannah  bat- 
tery, commanded  by  Lieutenant  Robert  Faligant,  was 
on  our  line  and  conspicuous  for  its  brilliant  work. 
Swinton,  the  historian,  says,  "  The  loss  on  the  Union 
side  in  this  sanguinary  action  was  over  13,000,  while 
on  the  part  of  the  Confederates  it  is  doubtful  if  it 
reached  that  many  hundreds." 

General  Grant  was  late  in  asking  for  a  truce  to  bury 
his  dead,  but  finally  did  so.  The  sight  in  our  front  was 
sickening,  heartrending  to  the  stoutest  soldier.  Noth- 
ing like  it  was  seen  during  the  war,  and  that  awful 
mortality  was  inflicted  in  but  little  more  than  an  hour ! 
The  Union  commander  afterwards  announced  in  gen- 
eral orders  that  no  more  assaults  on  entrenched  lines 
should  be  made.  He  then  continued  his  movement 
eastward.  Lee  was  for  a  short  time  in  painful  doubt 
whether  Grant  would  cross  the  river  or  hold  his  route 
up  the  north  side.  It  was  solved  by  Grant's  bridge 
and  rapid  crossing,  Lee  having  barely  time  to  throw 
his  van  into  Petersburg.  Grant  had  nearly  stolen  the 
march  on  him. 

The  latter  had  expected  to  capture  the  town  by 
surprise,  a  coup  de  main.  He  was  foiled  by  Beaure- 


CONFEDERATE  STAFF  OFFICER     251 

gard  and  Wise  and  some  brave  militia  and  home 
guards.  They  defended  the  position  until  succor 
came,  by  the  head  of  Lee's  column  hastening  to  the 
rescue.  Beauregard's  conduct  on  this  occasion  was 
admirable,  and  much  was  owing  to  him,  for  which  I 
doubt  if  full  acknowledgment  has  been  made. 

According  to  official  returns  the  Union  losses  since 
May  5th  had  been  60,700  killed,  wounded  and  missing 
— 3,000  more  than  Lee  numbered  at  the  opening  of 
the  campaign.  Grant  had  received  in  reinforcements 
51,000  muskets,  including  Smith's  four  brigades. 
Lee's  were  14,000. 

From  Wilderness  to  Cold  Harbor:  Lee's  aggre- 
gate, 78,400;  Grant's  aggregate,  192,600. 

I  place  here  an  incident  less  dismal  than  the  reflec- 
tions brought  up  by  the  foregoing  gruesome  figures. 

At  one  of  the  small  rivers  in  the  sharp  campaign 
just  ended  we  were  in  line  on  the  south  side  inviting 
battle.  The  enemy  were  on  the  other  side,  but  with 
no  intention  of  crossing.  He  contented'  himself  with 
abundant  artillery  practise,  and  made  everything  un- 
comfortable in  range  of  his  shell.  We  found  no  need 
of  making  reply  and  saved  our  ammunition.  Our 
corps  headquarters  had  made  halt  for  the  time  in  a 
beautiful  grove,  where  stood  a  large,  old-fashioned 
Virginia  residence,  a  great  house  of  wooden  framing, 
with  two  immense  brick  chimneys  at  each  gable,  the 
chimneys  stretching  far  above  the  roof  apex. 

The  shelling  was  so  frequent  and  the  small  frag- 
ments flying  everywhere  so  annoying  that  most  of 
us  got  under  the  lee  of  a  gable.  We  knew  it  would 
not  resist  a  shell,  but  could  fend  off  the  offensive  frag- 
ments. General  Anderson  was  coolly  walking  about 
the  grove,  sucking  his  big  pipe,  and  warned  us  that 


252  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  A 

if  a  shell  struck  one  of  the  chimneys  there  might  be 
trouble.  We  were  perhaps  two  dozen  sitting  there, 
officers,  orderlies,  and  some  horses  held  by  the  bridle. 
Anderson  was  right.  A  crash,  a  bursting  roar,  and 
down  came  bricks  and  mortar  on  those  not  quick 
enough  to  skip  out  of  the  way.  I  myself  lost  no  time, 
and  was  unhurt,  as  also  were  the  others  of  the  staff. 
But  two  of  the  couriers  had  a  bad  time  of  it.  Hardy, 
my  Chickamauga  man,  and  Tucker,  from  Milledge- 
ville,  had,  one  a  broken  leg,  the  other  a  fractured  arm. 
Both  were  put  into  an  ambulance  and,  cursing  and 
reviling  at  being  wounded  by  loose  brick-bats  instead 
of  honorable  bullets,  were  carried  to  the  rear.  The 
laugh  was  decidedly  on  us. 

A  loss,  personal  to  me  as  well  as  to  the  army, 
happened  during  the  marches,  in  which  there  was 
sometimes  severe  fighting  by  parts  of  the  armies  not 
mentioned  in  the  narrative.  General  Early,  a  most 
enterprising,  resourceful  officer,  was  much  given  to 
forced  reconnaissances.  They  usually  seemed  to  me 
unnecessary  and  wasted  men  by  death  and  wounds. 
Their  intention  was  to  ascertain  accurately  the  positive 
strength  and  morale  of  the  enemy,  and  generally  a 
brigade  was  told  off  for  the  service.  It  appeared  to 
me  that  the  information  could  be  gathered  by  scouts 
and  picked  men  without  sacrificing  the  ranks,  but  Gen- 
eral Early  thought  differently.  On  one  of  these  move- 
ments the  Virginia  brigade  of  Pegram  (who  was  ab- 
sent, wounded)  was  commanded  by  Col.  Edward  Wil- 
lis, of  the  Twelfth  Georgia  Infantry.  His  was  a  fine 
character.  Just  from  West  Point  at  the  outbreak  of 
the  war,  he  threw  himself  into  the  army  with  ardor, 
became  colonel  of  the  fine  Twelfth  Georgia  Infantry, 
worthily  succeeding  Ed.  Johnson,  and  was  about  to  be 


CONFEDERATE  STAFF  OFFICER      253 

made  brigadier-general  when  ordered  to  the  recon- 
naissance in  force.  He  was  shot  down,  mortally 
wounded  —  the  gallant,  fair-headed,  white-skinned, 
slight  young  colonel  (he  was  very  young),  valiantly 
leading  the  brigade. 

Our  position  was  at  some  distance,  but  I  was  im- 
mediately sent  for.  Our  families  had  long  been  neigh- 
bors and  friends  in  Savannah,  and  young  Willis  was 
soon  to  be  one  of  us  by  a  still  closer  tie.  I  was  quickly 
by  his  side.  He  died  on  my  arm,  but  not  before  whis- 
pering loving  messages  for  home  and  to  that  one  he 
bore  on  his  brave  heart  to  its  last  beat.  The  remains 
of  this  brilliant  young  soldier  were  sent  home,  accom- 
panied by  a  guard  of  honor  picked  from  the  brigade 
by  his  division  commander. 

Major-General  Hampton  succeeded  Stuart  in  com- 
mand of  the  cavalry.  This  officer  had  served  from 
the  very  beginning  of  the  war  with  high  distinction, 
had  proved  himself  a  careful,  vigilant,  as  well  as  en- 
terprising cavalry  leader,  and  possessed  the  confidence 
of  the  cavalry  troops.  General  Lee  gave  him  his  own 
without  reservation  and  his  hearty  support  in  every 
situation. 

General  Hampton  was  of  fine  presence,  a  bold 
horseman,  a  swordsman,  and  of  the  most  undaunted 
courage.  He  had  received  several  wounds,  but  was 
now  in  robust  health. 

His  family  were  identified  with  South  Carolina 
from  its  earliest  settlement,  and  grew  to  be  of  com- 
manding importance  and  wealth. 

He  rose  to  the  rank  of  lieutenant-general,  and  after 
the  war  performed  great  political  services  to  his  State 
within  her  borders  and  as  her  Senator  at  Washington. 


CHAPTER  XXXIII 

THE  SIEGE  OF  PETERSBURG,  JUNE,  1864,  TO 
MARCH,  1865 

Siege  of  Petersburg  —  Lines  closely  drawn  —  Attacks  on  Lee's 
right  —  Mahone's  defense  —  Mining  for  an  explosion  — 
North  side  threatened  —  Troops  sent  —  Capture  of  Battery 
Harrison  —  Lee's  attempt  to  retake  it  —  The  repulse  —  Gen- 
eral Lee  and  General  Pemberton  —  Attack  on  Fort  Gilmer  — 
Negroes  in  the  van  —  General  Lee's  activity  —  His  headquar- 
ters —  Enemy's  fire  on  Petersburg  —  Meeting  with  Twelfth 
Virginia  Infantry  —  Lee  attacks  in  front  of  Richmond  — 
Beats  Kautz  and  takes  his  cannon  —  Kautz  retreats  to  a  fort 
—  Lee  attacks  and  is  repulsed  —  Union  troops  armed  with 
Spencer  rifles  —  General  Lee's  quick  eye  for  horses  —  Ewell's 
fall  from  his  horse  —  Kershaw's  Division  sent  to  Valley  — 
Destruction  of  barns  and  houses  —  Kershaw  returns  —  Cap- 
ture of  a  remount  —  The  crater  —  Intercourse  between 
pickets  —  Continuous  firing  —  General  E.  P.  Alexander's  love 
of  shooting. 

The  siege  of  Petersburg  had  now  begun.  It  is  cer- 
tain that  Lee  had  had  a  narrow  escape  in  getting  there 
in  time.  Grant  had  nearly  beaten  him  and  indeed 
should  have  taken  the  place,  notwithstanding  Beaure- 
gard's  boldness.  The  Union  generals  had  been  ex- 
plaining with  some  heated  recriminations  how  they 
failed  to  be  in  possession  before  Lee  came  up.  The 
latter  on  the  north  side  had  been  for  hours  under  in- 
tense anxious  uncertainty  in  discovering  Grant's  move, 
whether  a  crossing  or  continued  march  on  the  north 
side. 

The  lines  were  closely  drawn  and  severe  fighting 
ensued.  Digging  began  in  earnest  on  both  sides. 
Salients,  traverses,  bastions,  forts,  trenches,  covered 

254 


CONFEDERATE  STAFF  OFFICER      255 

ways,  parallel,  zig-zags,  and  all  the  other  devices  for 
the  taking  and  defense  of  fortified  cities  were  resorted 
to.  Our  left  rested  on  the  Appomattox  River  and 
was  so  close  to  the  enemy's  line  that  a  biscuit  could 
be  thrown  across,  and  conversation  went  on  con- 
stantly between  the  fighters,  who  the  next  minute  were 
firing  at  any  head  or  arm  that  might  be  incautiously 
exposed.  Our  works  stretched  from  the  left  around 
the  town  to  the  Weldon  Road  on  the  right,  and  this 
was  an  object  of  Lee's  constant  solicitude.  It  was 
our  direct  railroad  to  the  South,  and  Grant  in  posses- 
sion would  have  our  communications  cut  and  supplies 
broken  off.  For  months  it  was  the  Federal  General's 
incessant  effort  to  accomplish  it.  His  great  numbers 
made  it  possible,  but  Lee  always  managed,  notwith- 
standing, to  have  a  defense. 

At  Reams  Station  Major-General  Mahone  per- 
formed great  service  in  beating  back  the  force  sent 
to  seize  the  road  at  that  point.  Later  in  the  siege, 
mining  began  by  the  enemy.  The  result  was  the  ap- 
palling hour  of  the  crater  explosion  by  which  very 
many  Confederates  perished,  and  then  in  the  great 
combat  that  followed  for  recapturing  the  ground,  hun- 
dreds of  Federals  fell.  Mahone  was  conspicuous  in 
restoring  the  broken  lines. 

But  the  story  of  the  siege  of  Petersburg  —  eight 
months  —  is  not  to  be  told  in  a  few  pages.  It  was  a 
struggle  from  day  to  day,  night  to  night,  and  filled 
with  picturesque  scenes  of  individual  daring  and  valor, 
sorties  and  strategems.  There  was  often  quiet  mass- 
ing of  columns  for  heavy  assaults  on  points  supposed 
to  be  relatively  weak.  We  sustained  many  of  these 
but  the  lines  were  maintained.  Lee  also  made  some 
hard  drives  at  his  opponent  with  varying  success.  All, 


256  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  A 

however,  pointed  to  only  one  thing  —  the  wasting  of 
our  unrecruited  strength  and  the  apparently  limitless 
numbers  available  for  the  Union  Army. 

While  such  operations  were  carried  on  south  of  the 
James,  General  Grant  was  not  idle  on  the  north  side.  A 
strong  force  was  held  there  threatening  Richmond,  and 
our  commander  had  to  provide  for  it  out  of  his  thin 
ranks  and  keep  some  show  of  strength  in  front  of  our 
capital,  immensely  aided,  however,  by  the  excellent 
lines  of  field  works  that  environed  the  city.  These 
conditions  brought  about  considerable  shifting  of  our 
two  divisions.  Field  and  Kershaw  were  between  the 
Petersburg  lines  and  the  north  side,  and  Pickett's  di- 
vision was  defending  what  was  known  as  the  Chester- 
field lines  between  Petersburg  and  Richmond,  but  was 
not  threatened. 

A  strong  force  of  the  enemy  had  massed  north  of 
the  James  and  captured  a  powerful  earthwork  known 
as  Battery  Harrison  on  our  extreme  right.  General 
Lee  had  come  on  the  scene  with  one  of  the  First  Corps 
divisions  and  other  troops.  He  decided  to  retake  the 
fort,  attaching  great  importance  to  its  possession.  An 
assaulting  column  of  three  good  brigades  was  organ- 
ized, Bratton's  South  Carolina  regiments  among  them. 
Captain  Sorrel,  then  adjutant-general,  shook  hands 
with  me  as  they  started  forward,  almost  a  "  forlorn 
hope,"  and  I  thought  never  to  see  him  alive  again. 
But  he  came  out  safe  among  many  killed  and  wounded, 
the  assault  being  repulsed  with  great  loss.  A  new 
line  was  entrenched  and  fortified,  thrown  back  to  right 
and  rear. 

General  Lee,  when  he  liked,  could  sit  down  pretty 
hard  on  words  not  agreeable  to  him.  An  example 
was  given  that  night.  With  his  staff  and  several  gen- 


CONFEDERATE  STAFF  OFFICER      257 

eral  officers  he  was  at  the  Chaffin  farm-house  on  the 
James,  reviewing  the  serious  events  of  the  day.  Gen- 
eral Pemberton,  after  the  fall  of  Vicksburg,  being 
without  assignment,  had  assumed  his  rank  of  lieuten- 
ant-colonel in  the  Regular  Army,  and  as  such  was  on 
engineer  duty  on  the  Richmond  line  of  defense.  He 
was  present  and,  speaking  of  Battery  Harrison,  said 
with  something  like  superior  confidence,  "  I  presume, 
General,  you  will  retake  the  fort,  coute  que  coute." 
Lee's  sad,  steady  eyes  rested  on  that  unfortunate  of- 
ficer as  he  slowly  said :  "  General  Pemberton,  I  made 
my  effort  this  morning  and  failed,  losing  many  killed 
and  wounded.  I  have  ordered  another  line  provided 
for  that  point  and  shall  have  no  more  blood  shed  at  the 
fort  unless  you  can  show  me  a  practical  plan  of  cap- 
ture; perhaps  you  can.  I  shall  be  glad  to  have  it." 
There  was  no  answer  from  Pemberton. 

General  Lee  had  had  an  anxious  day;  all  of  it  was 
occupied  in  meeting  the  enemy's  attacks.  There  was 
an  especially  severe  one  on  Fort  Gilmer  by  Ben 
Butler's  command,  with  negro  regiments  pushed  in 
front  of  the  assailing  whites.  Fortunately  we  had 
a  staunch  regiment  in  the  fort,  which  beat  back  the 
attacking  column. 

A  hundred  or  two  of  the  negroes,  half  crazed  with 
whiskey,  got  into  the  ditch  of  the  fort  and  refused 
surrender. 

Our  men  lighted  some  shells,  rolled  them  over  the 
parapet  and  quickly  brought  the  darkies  to  subjection. 
It  was  an  ugly  affair  all  through. 

And  so  the  siege  passed.  One  day  strong  detach- 
ments must  be  made  to  meet  powerful  movements 
against  our  extreme  right  flank,  and  requires  the 
leaders'  presence.  Truly  never  was  a  leader  called 


258  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  A 

on  for  greater  performance.  General  Lee's  health 
was  now  fortunately  stronger  and  his  activity  most 
wonderful. 

He  was  in  comfortable  quarters  at  the  Turnbull 
House,  offered  for  his  use  by  the  owner.  Our  own 
were  not  far  distant,  and  quite  comfortable  in  tents 
and  small  houses.  The  routine  life  of  the  town 
passed  from  day  to  day  without  excitement.  The 
people  had  become  accustomed  to  shell  and  bullets 
and  made  no  ado  when  they  whizzed  about  their  heads. 

I  do  not  think  the  enemy's  fire  was  directed  espe- 
cially at  the  non-combatant  part  of  the  town,  but 
much  of  it  got  there  all  the  same.  A  new  accession 
to  our  staff  was  Captain  Dunn,  of  Petersburg,  an 
excellent  gentleman,  with  us  now  for  several  months. 
A  shell  burst  on  him  while  bathing  in  his  house,  and 
smashed  things  all  around,  but  the  A.  D.  C.  and  his 
family  escaped.  A  bullet  had  found  his  leg  before 
this  good  luck. 

The  citizens  were  very  hospitable  and  very  self- 
sacrificing.  Too  much  could  not  be  done  for  the  sol- 
diers. But  this  was  the  feeling  and  the  practise  all 
over  Virginia. 

As  we  entered  Petersburg  I  came  up  with  the  regi- 
ments of  Mahone's  brigade,  the  Twelfth  among  them. 
They  had  not  forgotten  the  Wilderness,  gave  me  a 
rousing  cheer,  and  cried  that  we  must  again  together 
charge  these  fellows  in  front  of  Petersburg.  Their 
brave  survivors  keep  me  in  mind  still,  after  these 
many  years. 

General  Lee,  always  aggressive,  was  quick  to  find 
opportunity  of  attack.  He  saw  his  enemy  rather  ex- 
posed at  a  point  in  front  of  Richmond,  quickly  got 
some  troops  in  position,  and  made  a  dash  at  them  in 


CONFEDERATE  STAFF  OFFICER      259 

great  style.  It  was  a  strong  force  of  infantry  and 
cavalry  under  General  Kautz,  and  he  left  eight  or 
nine  guns,  many  prisoners,  and  some  colors  in  our 
hands,  retiring  to  a  strong  fort  and  defenses  about  a 
mile  in  his  rear.  Our  General  decided  to  have  it  and 
follow  up  his  first  success.  Gregg's  Texas  Brigade 
and  two  others  —  seasoned  troops  —  were  thrown  at 
Kautz's  fort.  We  could  not  live  against  its  fire  —  no 
troops  could.  His  men  were  armed  with  the  Spencer  \ 
magazine  rifles  and  such  a  fire  had  never  before  jarred  ' 
and  stunned  us.  We  had  to  retire  and  resume  our 
positions.  Losses  were  considerable,  among  them 
Brig.-Gen.  John  Gregg,  commanding  the  Texas 
Brigade  —  a  very  able  officer. 

General  Lee  was  fond  of  horses  and  had  always 
an  eye  to  them.  When  the  first  attack  was  made  my 
brother,  Captain  Sorrel,  was  mounted  on  a  nice  young 
mare  I  had  just  given  him.  At  the  first  onset  she 
was  shot,  and  horse  and  rider  were  both  in  the  mud. 
It  happened  almost  under  General  Lee's  eyes. 

Some  days  after,  the  General  meeting  Sorrel  on 
the  road  kindly  asked  if  he  were  hurt,  and  was  sorry 
for  the  loss  of  the  mare.  "  But  I  have  got  another, 
General,"  said  the  Captain.  "  Yes,  two  it  seems," 
the  General  answered  as  he  rode  off,  smiling.  Sorrel's 
bewilderment  was  removed  when  later  on  it  became 
plain  that  the  new  purchase  Was  in  foal. 

When  Ewell,  one  leg  gone,  was  forced  to  relinquish 
field  work  and  take  leave  of  his  corps,  the  old  Warrior 
insisted  on  other  duty,  and  was  assigned  to  command 
of  the  inner  line  of  defenses  about  Richmond.  Gen- 
eral Lee,  with  Ewell,  Anderson,  and  a  number  of  other 
officers,  and  some  of  our  staff,  was  examining  a  new 
line  of  defense  with  that  trained  engineer's  eye  of  his, 


26o  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  A 

Ewell  riding  by  him.  The  latter  was  so  good  a  horse- 
man that  his  one  leg  was  equal  to  most  riders'  two,  but 
his  horse  stumbling,  down  came  both  —  an  awful  crop- 
per. I  made  sure  the  General's  head  and  neck  were 
cracked.  He  was  picked  up,  no  bones  broken,  but 
an  "  object  "  about  the  head ;  scratched,  bruised,  torn 
and  bloody.  Lee  instantly  ordered  him  back  to  Rich- 
mond and  to  stay  there  until  completely  well. 

In  two  or  three  hours  he  was  again  on  the  lines, 
and  such  a  sight!  Painfully  comical  it  was.  He 
had  gone  to  the  hospital,  where  the  bald  head  and 
face  were  dressed.  He  returned  swathed  in  band- 
ages from  crown  of  head  to  shoulders.  Two  little 
apertures  for  his  piercing  eyes  and  two  small  breath- 
ing spaces  were  all  that  was  left  open  for  the  Lieu- 
tenant-General.  Quite  indifferent,  however,  to  such 
mishaps,  he  was  sharp  about  his  work  and  lisping 
out  directions  as  usual. 

General  Lee  thought  to  weaken  the  pressure  on  him 
at  Petersburg  and  Richmond  by  transferring  some  of 
it  to  the  open  field  of  the  Valley,  where  skilful  man- 
euvering might  offset  inferior  numbers.  He  had  the 
temerity  to  detach  part  of  his  army  for  the  purpose, 
and  with  some  other  commands  sent  General  Anderson 
with  Kershaw's  division  across  the  mountains.  Most 
of  the  staff  went  with  the  expedition  and  had  op- 
portunity of  witnessing  Sheridan's  work  in  destroy- 
ing all  the  resources  of  that  fighting-ground. 

As  we  marched  forward,  the  enemy  slowly  retir- 
ing^ smoke  was  seen  ahead  on  a  wide  range  from  the 
burning  barns  and  granaries  of  the  non-combatant 
people.  Sheridan  was  arranging  for  his  "  crow  "  to 
carry  his  own  rations  should  he  venture  into  the 
Valley. 


CONFEDERATE  STAFF  OFFICER      261 

General  Lee's  ingenious  and  bold  attempt  did  not 
result  as  he  hoped.  Grant  could  not  be  tempted  that, 
way.  His  business  was  at  Petersburg  and  Richmond, 
and  besides  there  were  already  enough  of  his  troops 
in  the  Valley  and  covering  Washington  to  answer  for 
the  safety  of  that  capital.  Our  expedition  was  there- 
fore soon  terminated  and  came  back  to  the  James. 
The  division  had  but  two  encounters  in  the  Valley. 
One  at  Charlestown,  a  small  affair,  in  which  General 
Humphreys,  commanding  the  Mississippi  Brigade,  was 
wounded.  Another  was  at  Front  Royal,  in  which 
Wofford's  brigade  got  caught  in  a  bend  of  the  river 
and  was  beaten  off  with  loss  in  killed,  wounded,  and 
prisoners.  A  dear  friend,  Colonel  Edward  Stiles, 
Sixteenth  Georgia  Regiment,  was  killed. 

I  had  chance,  however,  before  marching,  after  a 
sharp  night's  ride,  to  pay  a  flying  visit  at  their  home 
to  the  good  ladies  Hamtrammock,  who  had  cared 
for  me  wounded  at  Sharpsburg.  They  were  as  pleas- 
ant as  ever  and  the  hour  seemed  all  too  short.  While 
in  the  Federal  lines  they  had  supplied  themselves  with 
all  sorts  of  little  things  for  soldiers  in  the  field,  as 
tokens  of  remembrance,  and  I  had  pressed  on  me  a 
pair  of  fine  gauntlets,  which  seemed  about  everything 
that  I  wanted  at  the  moment. 

On  our  way  back  to  Lee  the  division  (Kershaw's) 
suddenly  came  up  with  a  Union  regiment  of  cavalry 
foraging  at  the  foot  of  the  mountains.  It  was  a 
surprise  to  the  riders,  and  they  at  once  took  to  their 
heels,  pressing  up  on  the  side  of  the  mountains  for 
escape.  We  had  nothing  but  food  with  us,  and  most 
of  the  mounted  regiment  got  safely  away  in  small 
parties.  Two  fully-equipped  ambulances,  however, 
could  not  follow  the  riders,  and  were  overturned  in 


262  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  A 

a  mountain  gulley.  One  of  them  furnished  me  with 
an  excellent  mount.  Two  soldiers  were  going  through 
its  beautiful  equipment,  and  coming  among  the  medi- 
cines to  a  large  vessel  labeled  "  Spiritus  frumenti  "  it 
was  tossed  aside  with  the  rest  of  the  pharmacopoeia. 
But  some  one  suggested  that  "  Spiritus  frumenti " 
might  be  another  way  of  spelling  whiskey  —  and  then 
to  see  those  fellows  go  for  it ! 

While  the  commander  and  most  of  the  troops  of 
the  First  Corps  were  on  the  north  side,  the  enemy's 
mines  at  Petersburg  were  "  spring  making."  "  The 
Crater  "  was  a  frightful  affair,  and  should,  it  appears 
to  me,  have  been  prevented.  We  knew  they  were  min- 
ing. Our  shaft  had  been  sunk  and  short  galleries 
run  out.  Their  working  parties  could  be  heard. 
Should  we  not  have  countermined  actively  and  fought 
their  men  off  in  their  own  galleries?  However,  it  was 
not  done,  and  the  "  blow  up,"  considered  only  barely 
possible,  was  upon  us.  When  it  came  it  was  all  that 
the  enemy  could  wish.  His  plans  were  excellent,  but 
miscarried  by  the  conduct  of  one  or  more  of  his  lead- 
ing officers.  The  crater  was  at  once  filled  with  their 
men,  many  negroes  among  them  —  negroes  who,  as 
usual,  primed  with  whiskey,  had  been  pushed  to  the 
front  and  into  the  breach,  but  support  failed  them. 

Then  came  the  Confederates'  great  work  of  destroy- 
ing these  men  and  recovering  their  mutilated  line. 
Mahone  did  brilliant  service.  His  division  of  five 
brigades  was  thrown  at  the  invaders,  and  with  other 
forces  seized  the  "  hole,"  captured  or  killed  the  un- 
fortunates in  it,  and  the  day  was  ours  with  the  works 
and  integrity  of  the  line  restored. 

I  had  heard  much  of  this  remarkable  fight   from 


CONFEDERATE  STAFF  OFFICER      263 

the  Georgia  Brigade  (it  had  been  very  conspicuous 
in  it)  that  I  took  command  of  some  days  after. 

This  amusing  story  was  told  me  by  one  of  its  men. 
Exhausted  in  the  crater  fight,  he  sank  wearily  on  a 
log  for  a  short  rest.  It  moved  gently  and  an  old- 
fashioned  negro's  voice  came  from  the  log-like  darky, 
"  Please,  Marster,  don't  shoot ;  I'se  doin'  nuttin'." 
The  rascal  had  doubtless  been  one  of  the  first  in  the 
crater,  wild  with  liquor;  but  the  Southerner  was  merci- 
ful and  sent  him  to  the  rear. 

Of  course  the  men  on  both  sides  behind  the  works, 
so  close  sometimes,  got  tired  of  "  potting "  at  each 
other,  and  taking  a  rest  became  altogether  too  friendly. 
Firing  would  cease  and  individuals  and  small  parties 
appear  in  front  bartering  and  chaffing  with  the  boys 
in  blue. 

Our  tobacco  was  always  good  for  coffee  and  a 
Northern  paper.  It  got  to  be  too  familiar  and  led 
to  desertions  of  our  men.  Their  rations  were  of  the 
poorest  (one-half  pound  of  bacon  and  three-quarters 
of  a  pound  of  cornmeal),  their  clothing  and  shoes 
worn  and  unfit  for  the  field,  and  their  work  and  duties 
of  the  hardest  on  our  attenuated  lines.  Reliefs  were 
few  and  far  between.  No  wonder  they  sometimes 
weakened  to  better  themselves,  as  they  supposed,  and 
stayed  with  the  fat-jowled,  well-clad,  coddled-up 
masses  opposite  them.  But  we  had  to  stop  the  deser- 
tions at  any  price,  so  at  night  steady,  continuous 
musketry  firing  was  ordered,  sweeping  the  glacis  in 
front  of  our  entrenchments.  It  cost  a  lot  of  lead 
and  powder,  but  did  something  in  holding  back  the 
weaklings  in  our  command. 

The   enemy,   nothing  loth,    returned   the  fire,   and 


264 

were  good  enough  to  send  plenty  of  their  own  lead. 
There  was  considerable  to  be  gathered  during  the 
day,  and  this  got  my  friend,  Gen.  E.  P.  Alexander, 
into  trouble.  He  was  a  many-sided  character  —  an 
engineer  of  the  highest  abilities,  an  artillerist  of  great 
distinction,  a  good  reconnoitering  officer  and  an  en- 
thusiastic sportsman  besides.  In  the  early  days  of  the 
war  I  one  day  met  him,  mounted  as  usual  on  a  very 
sorry,  doubtful-looking  beast,  with  a  pair  of  enormous 
holsters  on  his  saddle-horn.  '•"  And  what  have  you 
there,  Alexander?  "  I  asked,  thinking  possibly  of  some 
good  edibles.  "  These,"  he  said,  and  drew  out  his 
long  telescope  for  reconnaissance  —  a  very  powerful 
glass  —  and  from  the  other  an  enormous  old-fashioned 
horse-pistol  of  immense  calibre,  some  tiny  cubes  of 
lead,  cut  from  bullets,  and  a  pinch  or  two  of  gun- 
powder. "  Quail,"  he  said,  "  are  eating  up  this  coun- 
try and  I  like  them.  This  old  pistol  gives  me  many 
a  mess  of  birds."  At  Petersburg  his  only  want  for 
his  private  gunning  was  lead  to  melt  into  small  shot, 
and  gathering  some  (after  working  his  big  gun)  he 
received  an  unexpected  contribution  —  a  bullet  in  his 
shoulder,  hot  from  the  enemy,  which  made  him  a  very 
uncomfortable  wound. 


CHAPTER  XXXIV 
LONGSTREET'S  RETURN  —  FAREWELL  TO  LEE 

Return  of  Longstreet  —  Am  promoted  brigadier-general  —  Part- 
ing with  the  First  Corps  —  Report  to  A.  P.  Hill  and  Mahone 
—  Sketches  —  Assume  command  of  brigade  of  Georgians  — 
Its  staff  —  Drill  and  exercises  —  Laying  out  a  camp  —  Gen- 
eral Lee's  encouragement  —  Want  of  field  officers  —  Captain 
H.  H.  Perry  —  Mahone's  bread  ovens  —  Christmas,  1864  — 
Sherman's  march  in  Georgia  —  Grant's  Virginia  strategy  — 
Our  division  moves  out  in  bitter  cold  —  Demonstration  on  our 
extreme  right  against  the  railroad  —  Brigade  forms  line  — 
No  close  firing  —  Enemy  rejoins  his  main  command  —  Re- 
ceived a  slight  wound  —  The  return  to  camp  —  Its  bad  con- 
dition in  our  absence  —  Valuable  boots  burnt  in  bivouac  —  In 
February  again  ordered  out  to  right  —  Serious  collision  with 
enemy  in  force  at  Hatcher's  Run  —  General  Pegram  killed  — 
Am  shot  in  lung  and  borne  from  the  field  —  Moved  to  Rich- 
mond and  thence  to  Colonel  Watts's,  in  southwest  Virginia 
for  convalescence  —  My  recovery  —  Marriage  of  Doctor 
Sorrel  —  At  Lynchburg —  Hear  of  Lee's  surrender  —  Take 
to  the  mountains  —  Again  at  Colonel  Watts's  —  Hunter  and 
Crook  —  Homeward  bound  —  Lady  Godiva  —  Farewell  to 
Lee  and  the  Army  of  Northern  Virginia. 

It  was  in  October,  our  corps  (two  divisions)  being 
on  the  north  side,  that  we  had  the  happiness  of  wel- 
coming our  chief  back  to  his  command. 

His  right  arm  was  quite  paralyzed  and  useless. 

He  had  taught  himself  to  write  legibly  and  easily 
with  his  left.  Following  the  advice  of  his  doctor,  he 
was  forever  pulling  at  the  disabled  arm  to  bring  back 
its  life  and  action.  He  succeeded,  for,  though  never 
strong,  its  use  was  partially  restored  in  later  years 
and  his  pen  went  back  to  it. 

I  was  with  him  but  a  few  days.  My  commission 
as  brigadier-general  came  unexpectedly,  a  note  from 

265 


266  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  A 

my  friend  Burton  Harrison,  the  President's  Secre- 
tary, to  the  effect  that  it  had  been  signed,  reaching 
me  the  evening  before.  This  was  the  first  inkling  I 
had  of  the  promotion.  Elsewhere  it  has  been  told 
how  it  came  about,  and  I  began  preparing  to  move, 
my  orders  being  to  report  to  Lieut-Gen.  A.  P.  Hill 
for  command  in  Mahone's  division.  Hill's  corps  was 
on  the  south  side  in  front  of  Petersburg.  Lieut.-Col. 
O.  Latrobe  succeeded  me  as  A.  A.  G.  and  chief  of 
staff;  an  excellent  assignment.  A  brigadier  going  to 
an  organized  command  carries  no  staff  with  him. 
That  is  attached  to  the  brigade,  not  to  the  general. 
He  has  one  appointment,  that  of  A.  D.  C.  (captain's 
rank),  personal  to  himself.  There  were  many  applica- 
tions for  the  place,  but  sending  for  Spencer,  private, 
Fort  Alabama,  my  sergeant  of  couriers  for  several 
years,  I  almost  floored  the  modest  fellow  by  asking 
if  he  should  like  to  go  with  me  as  captain.  "Of 
course  "  he  should,  and  did,  and  was  part  and  parcel 
of  that  brigade  of  Georgians  in  no  time  until  Ap- 
pomattox  dispersed  us.  I  had  made  no  mistake  in 
him;  an  exceedingly  useful  staff  officer. 

Few  can  know  how  painful  it  was  to  part  with 
my  corps  and  its  chief.  I  had  started  with  them  at 
the  opening  battle,  handled  its  growing  battalions  into 
brigades  and  divisions,  and  shared  its  battles,  expedi- 
tions, and  campaigns;  was  proud  of  its  renown;  was 
known  to  officers  and  men  of  every  regiment  and  had, 
I  believe,  their  confidence  and  respect.  It  was  much 
to  give  up,  but  the  duty  called,  and  on  a  fine  morning 
I  mounted  with  my  A.  D.  C.  to  cross  the  river  and 
take  up  my  new  billet.  I  shall  be  excused,  I  hope,  if 
a  little  homesickness  is  confessed. 

My  comrades  did  not  let  me  go  easily.     The  night 


CONFEDERATE  STAFF  OFFICER      267 

before  there  was  a  farewell  party  of  many  officers  at 
headquarters.  A  goodly  quantity  of  apple-toddy  was 
consumed,  but  not  to  hurt,  and  the  party,  General 
Longstreet  with  us  for  a  time,  was  full  of  feeling, 
touching  me  keenly  by  its  spontaneous  demonstration. 

Here  ended  the  staff  officer's  duties,  but  his  recol- 
lections will  yet  carry  him  a  little  way  forward  while 
commanding  his  brigade.  The  end  was  fast  approach- 
ing, and  my  concluding  jottings  seem  to  belong  to 
what  has  gone  before. 

Turning  my  back,  then,  for  the  first  time  on  the 
glorious  old  First  Army  Corps,  I  reported  next  day 
at  A.  P.  Hill's  quarters.  Nothing  could  exceed  his 
kindness  in  receiving  me;  it  continued  all  through  my 
service  in  his  corps  and  I  had  every  evidence  of  the 
good  feeling  of  this  distinguished  officer.  I  was  to 
report  next  to  General  Mahone  for  command  of  his 
Georgia  brigade.  This  remarkable  man  was  at  break- 
fast when  I  entered  and  immediately  had  me  seated 
with  him. 

Maj.-Gen.  William  Mahone  was  a  Virginian,  about 
forty  years  of  age.  His  appearance  arrested  atten- 
tion. Very  small  both  in  height  and  frame,  he  seemed 
a  mere  atom  with  little  flesh.  His  wife  said  "  none." 
When  he  was  shot  (slightly)  she  was  told  it  was  only 
a  flesh  wound.  "  Now  I  know  it  is  serious,"  said  the 
good  lady,  "  for  William  has  no  flesh  whatever."  Sal- 
low of  feature,  sharp  of  eye,  and  very  active  in  move- 
ment was  the  General ;  in  dress  quite  unconventional, 
he  affected  jackets  rather  than  coats,  and  on  a  certain 
hot  summer's  day  that  I  recall  he  was  seen,  a  major- 
general  indeed,  but  wonderfully  accoutered !  A  plaited 
brown  linen  jacket,  buttoned  to  trousers,  of  same  ma- 
terial, like  a  boy's;  topped  off  by  a  large  Panama 


268  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  A 

straw  hat  of  the  finest  and  most  beautiful  texture,  met 
our  eyes,  and  I  must  say  he  looked  decidedly  com- 
fortable. But  not  always  was  he  thus  attired.  He 
could  be  strictly  uniformed  when  he  chose. 

He  had  been  president  of  the  railroad  between 
Petersburg  and  Norfolk,  and  retaining  the  office,  man- 
aged the  road  all  through  the  campaigns.  Finally  the 
enemy  captured  his  wagon-load  of  railroad  papers, 
records,  etc.,  and  Mahone  was  raging.  It  was  that 
railway,  when  hostilities  ended,  that  he  combined  with 
others  connecting  and  gained  a  start  into  the  political 
power  and  mischief  he  exercised  in  Virginia.  His 
brigade  of  Virginians  had  not  seen  much  hard  fight- 
ing until  the  Wilderness,  and  there  they  did  well.  It 
was  at  Petersburg,  in  command  of  his  division  of  five 
brigades  from  Virginia,  Georgia,  Alabama,  Mississippi, 
and  Florida  that  he  justly  won  great  reputation  for 
brilliant  achievements  in  defense  of  the  beleaguered 
city.  He  was  undoubtedly  a  general  of  very  uncom- 
mon ability. 

While  we  sat,  I  enjoyed  his  breakfast.  A  high 
liver,  nothing  could  excel  it,  and  he  was  never  with- 
out the  materials.  A  cow  was  always  by  his  quar- 
ters and  laying  hens  cackled  loud,  besides  many  lux- 
uries. Delicate  in  physique,  he  had  to  nourish  him- 
self carefully. 

I  received  his  orders  to  take  command  of  my 
Georgians,  and  mounted  on  my  way  to  them.  Ma- 
hone  was  said  to  be  irritable  and  in  some  instances 
tyrannical,  but  for  myself  I  had  invariably  nothing 
but  consideration,  and  often  good  help  from  him. 

The  brigade  was  in  trenches  far  on  the  right,  not 
in  very  close  touch  with  the  enemy,  and  was  having 
a  quiet  time  of  it  with  Col.  William  Gibson  in  com- 


CONFEDERATE  STAFF  OFFICER      269 

mand.  He  was  well  known  in  Georgia  politics  for 
some  years,  and  a  very  brave  officer;  repeatedly 
wounded,  but  without  discipline  or  organization. 
Leave  of  absence  was  allowed  him  to  return  to  Georgia. 

On  assuming  command,  Captain  Evans,  a  line  officer 
detailed  as  A.  A.  G.,  supposing  that  I  was  bringing 
an  officer  of  the  staff  department  with  me,  suggested 
that  probably  I  should  wish  him  to  rejoin  his  regi- 
ment. 

But  I  wanted  him  with  me.  He  had  long  filled 
the  post,  was  acquainted  with  almost  every  officer 
and  man  of  the  brigade,  and  was  a  brave  and  quali- 
fied officer.  The  command  consisted  of  the  Second, 
Twenty-second,  Forty-eighth,  and  Sixty-fourth  regi- 
ments and  Second  and  Tenth  battalions,  Georgia  In- 
fantry. The  Sixty-fourth  regiment  and  Tenth  bat- 
talion were  late  levies  and  had  not  made  the  great 
reputation  of  the  others,  while  serving  under  Wright 
and  Girardy.  The  latter  was  a  most  promising  officer 
promoted  from  captain  in  the  brigade,  and  was  killed  at 
the  head  of  it  two  weeks  after  taking  command. 

The  Third  Georgia  enjoyed  a  reputation  excelled 
by  none  in  the  army. 

My  first  thought  was  to  get  supplies  of  clothing 
and  shoes  for  the  men  and  have  the  command  re- 
lieved from  trench  duty,  to  which  it  was  entitled  by 
the  length  of  service  in  them.  Our  work  strengthen- 
ing the  defenses  always  went  on,  and  there  was  no 
time  for  much-needed  drill  and  military  exercise. 

General  Lee,  taking  his  daily  ride  about  the  lines, 
came  on  me  while  the  working  parties  were  digging 
and  spading.  His  greeting  was,  "  Good-morning,  my 
young  friend ;  I  feel  sorry  for  you."  "  Why  so,  Gen- 
eral ?  "  "  Because  you  have  so  much  to  do,"  answered 


2/o  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  A 

the  commander,  the  gleaming  white  teeth  showing  his 
pleasant  humor  as  he  continued  his  ride.  He  gen- 
erally had  some  such  words  to  let  one  know  he  ex- 
pected a  lot  of  work  out  of  him. 

I  was  not  unsuccessful  as  to  my  wants.  A  fair 
quantity  of  supplies  were  issued  and  orders  came  for 
relief  from  the  trenches  and  to  pitch  good  winter  camps 
a  little  in  the  rear.  It  was  great  joy  to  the  troops. 

A  good  piece  of  woods  was  selected  and  a  fine 
camp  of  winter  huts  laid  out  and  built  according  to 
regulations,  with  battalion  fronts  and  company  streets 
and  aTTthe  rest  in  good  soldiery  form.  Once  settled, 
drill  became  the  order  of  the  day  in  good  weather. 
There  were  fine  open  fields  near  by  furnishing  good 
ground,  and  company  drill,  battalion  drill,  and  evo- 
lutions of  the  line  by  the  brigade  were  followed  up 
vigorously,  as  well  as  all  military  exercises  and  street 
duties  practised  and  perfected.  The  men  were  in 
much  need  of  the  instruction.  Decided  neglect  in 
these  respects  had  fallen  on  this  fine  brigade  after  the 
stern  and  gallant  Wright  left  it,  and  the  good  effects 
of  the  efforts  now  working  out  were  soon  apparent. 

The  greatest  want  was  in  field  officers;  so  many 
had  been  wounded  and  left  with  the  enemy  at  Gettys- 
burg, besides  others  sick  at  home  or  in  the  hospital, 
that  the  regiments  suffered  thereby. 

I  wrote  urgently  and  personally  to  Mr.  Ould,  our 
commissioner  for  exchange,  to  get  back  to  me  cer- 
tain officers  whom  I  wanted  badly.  He  managed  to 
get  only  one,  Colonel  Snead,  of  the  Third  Georgia,  and 
him  I  was  glad  to  have. 

The  brigade  was  well  equipped  with  staff  officers  of 
the  subsistence,  quartermaster,  ordnance,  and  medical 
departments.  The  commissary,  Major  Hughes,  an  ex- 


CONFEDERATE  STAFF  OFFICER      271 

cellent  fellow,  was  the  same  who  had  sold  me  those 
two  sorry  mounts  that  broke  down  in  the  Chickamauga 
Campaign.  On  reporting,  he  evidently  thought  I 
might  recall  him  unfavorably  and  was  a  bit  uneasy, 
until  shown  that  no  ill  feelings  were  harbored  against 
him.  In  horse  dealing  it  is  "  caveat  emptor  " —  the 
buyer  must  look  sharply  to  himself. 

It  was  not  long  before  Capt,  H.  H.  Perry,  of  the 
Adjutant-General's  Department,  was  transferred  from 
Benning's  brigade  to  report  to  me  as  A.  A.  G.  There 
being  two  of  that  department  with  Benning  and  none 
with  me,  Perry  was  summarily  transferred  without 
any  question.  He  had  always  performed  inspection 
duty,  and  preferring  it,  was  assigned  to  that  branch 
of  his  department  in  my  brigade,  thus  retaining  Evans 
as  A.  A.  G.  "  Old  Rock  "  (General  Benning)  always 
believed  I  was  at  the  bottom  of  the  whole  business  and 
never  forgave  me. 

I  was  surely  fortunate  in  securing  so  excellent  a 
staff  officer.  Highly  educated,  experienced  with 
troops,  active  and  resourceful,  he  soon  became  prom- 
inent and  strong  in  the  brigade  as  well  as  attached 
to  his  brigadier.  He  is  still  with  the  living  in  Geor- 
gia, numbered  among  my  dear  friends. 

At  times  the  soldier's  ration  was  execrable,  really 
unfit.  Some  bacon  from  Nassau  was  coming  through 
the  blockade,  and  it  would  not  be  incredible  for  the 
blockading  fleet  to  allow  it  to  come  through  in  hope 
of  poisoning  us.  A  third  of  a  pound  of  this  stuff 
and  some  corn-meal  was  often  the  full  extent  of  the 
daily  ration. 

Sometimes  we  got  better  allowances  of  wheat  flour, 
and  then  General  Mahone  took  a  notion  to  improve  on 
it  by  baking.  The  brigade  commissaries  were  ordered 


272  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  A 

to  set  up  ovens  —  plenty  of  bricks  and  material  lying 
about  —  and  issue  the  flour  baked  in  good  loaves. 
There  is,  too,  a  slight  gain  in  weight  in  baking.  But 
the  men  would  none  of  such  food,  it  was  too  light  and 
wholesome.  Their  stomachs  wanted  the  flour  stirred 
with  grease  in  a  skillet  and  cooked  solid  and  hard. 
When  a  chunk  was  eaten  it  stayed  with  the  soldier 
and  kept  his  appetite  partly  appeased.  But  these  new- 
fangled loaves  —  so  easily  digested !  Hunger  came 
again,  almost  before  finishing  one  of  them.  Not  for 
Johnny  Reb  was  this  thing;  he  wanted,  like  Tommy 
Atkins,  "  some  bulk  in  his  inside,"  and  one  fine  morn- 
ing Mahone's  ovens  were  found  completely  demolished. 
The  soldiers  took  again  to  their  old-time  toothsome 
and  staying  morsels  out  of  the  skillet. 

Christmas  of  1864  was  now  at  hand.  The  birth  of 
the  Prince  of  Peace  was  given  such  honor  amid  the 
warlike  scenes  of  the  siege  as  our  small  resources 
permitted.  Some  boxes  came  from  loving  hearts  at 
home,  the  commissaries  did  all  they  could,  and  the 
Army  of  Northern  Virginia  actually  feasted,  trying 
to  forget  for  an  hour  or  two  the  perils  and  hardships 
that  beset  it. 

At  Christmas  General  Sherman  was  in  Savannah, 
his  march  to  the  sea  a  complete  success.  My  people 
at  home  suffered  no  great  annoyance.  Sherman  as  a 
young  lieutenant  had  shared  my  father's  hospitality 
and  had  not  forgotten  it.  The  old  gentleman,  how- 
ever, persistently  fastened  on  him  the  crime  of  burn- 
ing his  comfortable  country  establishment  in  Virginia. 

Sherman's  march  and  other  movements  in  the  West 
were  in  Grant's  strategic  combination  for  the  destruc- 
tion of  Lee's  army  and  should  be  considered  in  es- 
timating his  abilities  outside  of  operating  in  Virginia. 


CONFEDERATE  STAFF  OFFICER      273 

Indeed,  it  might  be  said  that  Sherman  contributed 
to  the  fall  of  Richmond  almost  as  much  as  did  the 
Army  of  the  Potomac. 

Early  in  January  it  came  on  to  be  very  cold,  and 
during  the  worst  of  it  our  division  was  ordered  out 
to  meet  a  threatening  demonstration  against  our  right 
at  a  considerable  distance.  My  brigade  marched  in- 
stantly, our  camp  being  occupied  by  Gen,  C.  A.  Evans's 
Georgia  Brigade  to  fill  our  position  on  the  line.  Evans 
was  in  luck  to  get  his  men  into  such  well-prepared 
camps.  We  moved  rapidly  and  in  two  days  came  up 
with  a  large  force  of  the  enemy,  formed  in  line  and 
prepared  for  battle.  It  appears,  however,  that  he  was 
not  ready  this  time,  or  that  he  overestimated  the  Con- 
federate strength  sent  against  him.  Some  shelling 
was  indulged  in  and  small-arm  long-distance  firing. 
It  seems  that  but  two  or  three  of  us  were  touched, 
among  them  myself.  I  was  sitting  on  the  white  mare 
(my  other  mount  gone  suddenly  lame)  in  front  of  the 
line,  with  no  thought  of  firing  then,  so  distant  was 
the  enemy, —  quite  out  of  range, —  when  a  long-range 
rifle  sent  a  bullet  through  many  folds  of  thick  clothing 
and  striking  on  the  hip  bone  knocked  me  out  of  the 
saddle.  It  proved  to  be  nothing  serious.  The  ball 
had  glanced  off,  stiffening  and  bruising  the  leg  rather 
painfully,  so  that  remounting  after  some  bandaging, 
it  stuck  out  like  a  wooden  leg.  I  did  not  think  that 
just  such  a  hit  could  unhorse  me. 

My  men  said  the  brigade  was  unlucky  for  its  com- 
manders. General  Wright  had  been  repeatedly  and 
dangerously  wounded;  several  colonels  commanding> 
wounded  or  killed,  and  General  Girardy  killed.  I  be- 
gan to  think  there  might  be  something  in  it.  The 
enemy  took  up  the  march,  and  leisurely  rejoining  their 


274  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  A 

main  body  to  the  right,  Mahone's  division  began  mov- 
ing for  the  camps  just  vacated.  It  continued  very 
cold,  much  ice  and  snow  lying  about  the  roads.  At 
our  last  bivouac  some  miles  from  camp  I  suffered  a 
loss,  nothing  less  than  a  noble  pair  of  riding-boots, 
a  present,  kept  for  extra  work. 

At  the  bivouac  the  negro  servant  had  taken  them 
out  of  the  blanket  roll  and  failed  to  replace  them. 
As  soon  as  they  were  missed,  back  he  went  and  re- 
turned with  the  precious  leathers  burned  to  a  crisp! 
Our  campfires  had  spread  through  the  forest.  At  this 
period  boots  cost  five  or  six  hundred  dollars  of  our 
currency,  if  to  be  had  at  any  price. 

On  starting  back  I  sent  word  to  General  Evans  of 
our  approach  so  that  my  camps  could  be  vacated  in 
good  order.  The  men  were  utterly  disgusted  and 
indignant  when  they  re-entered  their  quarters.  They 
were  little  like  the  well-kept  camps  they  had  tempo- 
rarily vacated.  Evans's  officers  had  not  properly  re- 
strained the  careless,  reckless  soldiers.  I  made  vigor- 
ous complaint  at  headquarters,  but  at  this  date  there 
was  perhaps  too  much  else  to  think  of.  General 
Evans  is  now  chief  of  the  veterans  in  Georgia  and 
held  in  great  respect  by  their  dwindling  numbers. 

Mahone's  other  brigades  were  efficiently  commanded 
by  Finnegan,  Florida;  Harris,  Mississippi;  Weisiger, 
Virginia;  Sanders,  Alabama. 

In  the  first  days  of  February  another  demonstration 
was  made  against  Lee's  extreme  right,  this  time  in 
great  force  and  meaning  business.  Our  division  and 
other  troops  with  cavalry  at  once  pushed  out  to  meet 
it,  with  Finnegan  in  command  of  division  (Mahone 
was  absent,  sick).  The  collision  came  at  Hatcher's 
Run  by  some  preliminary  skirmishing  on  February 


CONFEDERATE  STAFF  OFFICER      275 

5th,  a  sanguinary  action  on  the  6th,  followed  up  by 
the  enemy  feebly  on  the  7th.  On  the  6th,  my 
Georgians  were  hotly  engaged  in  the  afternoon  and 
made  a  handsome,  successful  charge,  which  dislodged 
and  forced  back  the  Federals.  The  contest  went  on 
until  darkness  stopped  it,  and  the  night  passed  en- 
trenching where  we  stood,  caring  for  wounded  and 
burying  dead. 

Early  next  morning  the  enemy,  driving  back  my 
pickets,  got  too  close  to  us,  and  a  rifleman  put  a  bullet 
through  my  right  lung,  smashing  the  ribs  front  and 
rear.  I  was  down  this  time  for  good,  I  supposed,  the 
breath  gushing  through  the  orifices  instead  of  its  nat- 
ural channel.  The  surgeon,  Dr.  Wood,  however,  soon 
relieved  that  by  plastering  the  holes,  and  sent  me  back 
that  night.  The  roads  being  frozen  and  very  rough, 
my  brave  fellows  made  two  relief  gangs  and  bore 
their  commander  by  litter  on  their  shoulders  eight 
miles  to  a  small  shanty,  where  rest  was  taken. 

All  through  the  night,  while  passing  stray  troops 
on  the  road,  I  could  hear  the  question,  "  Who  have 
you  there  ?  "  "  General  Sorrel."  "  Is  he  badly  hurt  ?  " 
"  Yes,  mortally  wounded."  The  soldier  habitually 
takes  a  gloomy  view  of  things. 

Very  soon  I  was  in  comfortable  quarters  near 
Petersburg,  in  the  hands  of  my  excellent  brigade  sur- 
geon, Dr.  Sampson  Pope,  and  progressed  so  well  that 
in  a  fortnight  I  could  be  moved  to  Doctor  Sorrel's 
quarters  in  Richmond,  under  treatment  of  my  friend 
Dr.  J.  B.  Reid,  and  with  that  ended  the  staff  officer's 
soldiering.  A  few  closing  words  will  bring  me  to  the 
end  of  these  "  Recollections  "  nearly  forty  years  be- 
hind us. 

My  wound  healing  satisfactorily,  Doctor  Sorrel  pro- 


276  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  A 

posed  in  March  taking  me  to  "  The  Oaklands,"  the 
beautiful  estate  in  Roanoke  County  of  Colonel  Wm. 
Watts,  who  had  kindly  sent  me  an  invitation  to  visit 
him.  He  was  the  invalided  colonel  of  the  Twenty- 
eighth  Virginia,  of  the  First  Corps,  a  fine  officer  and 
most  hospitable,  the  leading  man  of  the  county.  To 
him  we  went,  the  change  being  very  beneficial.  Then 
the  railroad  station  was  Big  Lick,  a  post-office,  shop, 
and  tavern.  It  is  now  grown  to  be  Roanoke,  a  pros- 
perous city  of  25,000.  Colonel  Watts's  widowed 
sister,  Mrs.  Rives,  presided  over  the  delightful  old 
Virginia  establishment.  Her  lovely  character  won  all 
hearts.  The  stately  figure  and  attractive  features 
were  known  and  admired  widely  over  the  countryside. 
To  me  she  was  kindness  itself,  and  no  marvel  is  it  that 
I  mended  rapidly. 

There  was  an  engagement  of  a  few  months'  stand- 
ing between  Doctor  Sorrel  and  Mrs.  Rives,  and  soon 
after  our  coming  the  uncertain  future  was  consid- 
ered. They  decided  to  wed  without  longer  waiting, 
and  the  ceremony,  quite  private,  was  performed  at 
the  residence,  myself  in  full  uniform  as  the  Doctor's 
best  man,  propped  on  my  feet  by  the  dignified,  silver- 
haired  black  major-domo. 

While  in  this  part  of  the  country  I  heard  much 
about  Hunter's  expedition  into  it  the  previous  year 
and  the  devastation  he  had  brought  in  the  region 
round  about.  Truly  Maj.-Gen.  David  Hunter,  of  the 
United  States  Army,  was  a  torch  bearer  if  nothing 
else.  He  had  no  military  distinction,  but  had  served 
against  the  Indians,  it  is  said,  with  the  same  cruelties 
it  was  now  his  delight  to  apply  to  non-combatant  dwell- 
ers in  southwest  Virginia  and  the  head  of  the  Shenan- 


CONFEDERATE  STAFF  OFFICER      277 

doah  Valley.  No  property  within  reach  of  his  de- 
stroying hand  seemed  safe  from  him.  His  fame  lay 
not  in  the  soldier's  hard-fought  battles,  but  in  burning 
farmers'  houses  and  barns.  The  'extensive  schools  at 
Lexington  aroused  his  hate  and  were  laid  in  ashes  by 
his  torch. 

General  Crook,  the  fine  soldier  then  serving  with 
him,  said,  "  He  would  have  burned  the  Natural  Bridge 
could  he  have  compassed  it."  Marvel  it  is  that  Hunter 
did  not  blow  it  up.  He  was,  however,  beaten  off  by 
Early's  forces  and  the  home  guards,  and  the  country 
cleared  of  that  devastator.  There  was  little  more 
heard  of  him  as  a  soldier. 

Ma j. -Gen.  George  Crook  was  altogether  a  differ- 
ent character.  He  was  a  soldier  of  high  training  and 
tried  courage,  making  no  war  on  women  and  children, 
houses  and  barns. 

Some  time  later,  one  of  our  daring  rangers,  NcNeil, 
with  a  small  following,  achieved  a  bold  exploit. 
While  Crook  was  commanding  a  department  at  Cum- 
berland, Md.,  the  ranger  penetrated  many  miles  within 
the  blue  lines,  took  the  General  out  of  bed,  mounted 
him  well,  and  landed  his  distinguished  prisoner  safely 
in  Richmond. 

There  Doctor  Sorrel,  who  had  served  with  him  in 
the  old  Army,  called  to  see  to  his  comforts.  Crook 
as  a  thorough-going  Indian  fighter  was  not  without 
some  admiration  for  the  way  NcNeil  had  gathered  him 
in.  "  But,  Sorrel,"  said  he,  "  I  shall  get  even  with 
that  fellow  at  his  own  work.  Just  as  soon  as  I  get 
out  of  this  my  commission  will  drop  for  a  few  weeks, 
while  I  raise  a  hundred  men  with  whom  I  undertake 
to  beat  Master  NcNeil  at  his  own  game." 


278  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  A 

Such  was  perhaps  his  intention  then,  but,  exchanged 
soon  after,  there  was  other  and  more  important  work 
awaiting  this  gallant  and  respected  officer. 

Early  in  April,  after  grateful  farewells  to  my  host 
and  new  sister,  we  started  to  rejoin  the  army.  At 
Lynchburg  came  to  us  the  accounts  of  the  surrender 
at  Appomattox,  with  all  the  pathetic,  harrowing  de- 
tails attaching  to  that  event;  the  feeling  of  the  soldiers, 
their  overflowing  affection  for  Lee  and  sympathy  with 
him  and  his  own  hidden  but  overwhelming  grief  — 
I  pass  them  by.  My  brigade  was  on  hand  in  good 
shape,  with  Captain  Perry  looking  after  it,  and  paroled 
stronger  than  any  brigade  in  the  army.  (See  Ap- 
pendix. ) 

The  commandant  at  Lynchburg,  General  Lomax, 
placed  at  my  disposal  an  ambulance  and  mules  to  get 
out  of  reach  of  the  Union  forces.  We  could  not  yet 
realize  that  the  war  was  ended  with  the  life  of  Lee's 
army.  I  took  to  the  mountains  for  some  days,  and 
then  finding  things  really  ended  and  my  troublesome 
wound  breaking  out  afresh,  ventured  again  on  Col- 
onel Watts's  hospitality.  It  was  as  generous  as  the 
day.  But  it  was  time  to  move,  and  after  farewell  to 
hospitable  Oaklands  the  Doctor  and  I  started  on  our 
return  home.  The  rails  were  sufficiently  repaired  to 
take  up  to  Lynchburg,  where  we  were  paroled  by  the 
United  States  officer.  Between  us  we  had  just  fifteen 
dollars  good  money,  and  it  came  to  me  in  this  way. 
When  I  was  last  in  Lynchburg,  as  already  described, 
one  of  our  quartermasters  pressed  on  me  $20  in  gold, 
four  half -eagles ;  "  A  barrel  of  Confederate  money  not 
good,"  as  he  said,  "  for  the  price  of  a  dinner." 

Some  time  after  I  came  up  with  a  young  Maryland 
cavalryman  making  his  way  back  to  Baltimore.  He 


CONFEDERATE  STAFF  OFFICER      279 

had  no  coat  or  jacket,  although  the  rest  of  him  was 
good,  and  I  wanted  to  know  why.  "  Well,"  said 
young  Latrobe  (it  was  my  friend's  brother),  "  my 
horse  wanted  a  set  of  shoes.  The  farrier  would  not 
look  at  my  money,  but  took  the  jacket,  and  I  got  my 
shoes."  It  was  quite  certain  the  young  fellow  would 
part  with  his  remaining  outfit,  piece  by  piece,  with  the 
same  easy  nonchalance,  if  need  be,  and  I  insisted  on 
his  taking  one  of  my  half-eagles.  But  for  that  the 
"Peeping  Toms  "  of  Baltimore  might  possibly  have 
seen  a  new  Godiva,  "  clothed  only  with  chastity,"  rid- 
ing through  their  streets  fresh  from  the  Southern 
armies.  Their  blushes  and  the  young  cavalryman's 
were  saved  by  that  golden  half -eagle. 

From  Lynchburg  to  Richmond  the  route  was 
tedious  and  wearying.  It  was  partly  by  rail,  partly 
in  an  army  wagon,  and  partly  on  foot.  On  arriving 
at  the  Confederate  capital  we  were  amid  the  ruins 
of  the  great  fire  that  nearly  destroyed  it.  The  army 
of  occupation  was  in  force,  everywhere  the  Union 
army  filled  one  with  wonder.  It  was  like  the  ant  in 
numbers,  and  I  really  could  not  take  in  its  unstinted 
equipment  in  wagons,  ambulances,  mules,  draught 
horses,  light  artillery,  and  horse  furniture,  all  ap- 
parently new  and  of  the  best  class  for  field  work.  The 
contrast  with  our  own  inadequate  equipment  was  very 
decided,  and  still  greater  was  the  splendor  of  their 
officers,  mounts  and  uniforms,  and  the  good  clothing 
of  the  soldiers,  with  what  on  our  part  had  contented 
us.  In  Richmond,  nursing  our  dwindling  cash,  we 
found  a  frugal  but  cheerful  hospitality  while  prepar- 
ing for  the  next  move  to  Baltimore,  where  we  were 
sure  of  meeting  my  good  father's  provision  for  us. 
My  weak  condition  would  not  permit  me  making  the 


280  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  A 

journey  home  on  horse-back;  it  must  be  by  sea. 
At  Richmond  we  took  the  oath,  as  prescribed,  to 
the  United  States  Government,  the  courteous  Federal 
officer  asking  pleasantly  if  it  "tasted  bad?"  This 
done  we  hoped  to  get  a  permit  to  leave  by  boat  for 
Baltimore,  but  were  refused.  No  movements  of  Con- 
federate officers,  except  Marylanders  returning,  were 
suffered  in  that  direction.  The  decision  was  then 
forced  on  us  that  we  must  go,  "  coute  que  coute." 
It  was  managed  successfully  with  some  little  risk. 
By  the  help  of  friends  we  were  smuggled  on  board 
just  as  the  boat  was  starting.  The  Doctor  was  in 
mufti  and  I  had  doffed  as  much  military  attire  as  I 
could.  We  kept  very  quiet  and  secluded  on  the  main 
deck  of  the  boat  as  she  glided  down  the  river  of  so 
many  warlike  scenes  of  the  preceding  years!  past 
frowning  Drewry's  Bluff,  past  bristling  Chappin's 
farm,  City  Point,  Westover,  and  Harrison's  Land- 
ing, Turkey  Bend  and  Butler's  Dutch  Gap  Canal  — 
all  saddening  and  depressing  in  the  retrospect,  crossing 
thoughts  of  the  misty  future.  At  the  fortress  a  short 
stop  was  made,  and  then  the  voyage  up  the  noble 
Chesapeake  resumed.  One  of  the  coal  passers  here 
recognized  me  with  a  wide,  astonished  grin.  He  was 
one  of  my  brigade  fellows,  in  now  for  a  job  at  any- 
thing. The  night  was  passed  on  the  bay  and  could 
have  been  very  comfortable  with  a  trifle  more  cash. 
We  had,  however,  just  about  enough  to  pay  for 
passage,  without  bed  or  meals.  So  we  stood  out  the 
long  night  and  could  provide  some  small  refreshments. 
When  morning  came  we  were  moored  to  the  wharf, 
and  I  soon  found  my  good  Baltimore  relatives  most 
hospitably  inclined,  and  our  troubles  for  the  time  were 
done  with. 


CONFEDERATE  STAFF  OFFICER      281 

There  were  many  Confederate  officers  and  soldiers 
about  the  city,  all  watched  quite  closely  by  the  Fed- 
ral  authorities.  General  Hancock  was  in  command  of 
the  department,  and  from  his  adjutant-general  I  re- 
ceived an  order  to  report  in  person.  Upon  so  doing 
I  was  questioned  as  to  my  reasons  for  being  in  Balti- 
more and  my  intentions.  Upon  explaining  why  I  was 
returning  home  by  that  route  and  that  I  should  have 
to  go  to  New  York  to  find  a  steamer  for  Savannah, 
he  was  civil  and  obliging;  allowed  a  stay  of  a  week 
in  Baltimore;  but  I  was  required  to  report  once  in 
every  twenty- four  hours.  The  next  day  this  consid- 
erate officer  dispensed  with  such  visits,  adding,  "  You 
shall  not,  General,  be  troubled  in  any  way  while  you 
are  stopping  here."  Here  Doctor  Sorrel  left  me. 
Deciding  to  defer  his  visit  home,  he  returned  at  once 
to  Virginia.  A  few  days  later  I  was  in  New  York 
at  the  New  York  Hotel,  Mr.  Cranston  the  proprietor, 
and  for  years  past,  as  then,  the  resort  of  everything 
Southern.  There  were  many  officers  in  the  hotel,, 
some  I  suspect  by  Cranston's  good  nature  and  kind- 
ness. After  a  visit  to  some  relatives  and  friends,  who 
had  only  thought  of  me  as  one  dead,  I  took  passage 
for  Savannah  on  a  small,  crowded,  most  uncomfortable 
little  steamer.  The  rough  voyage  was  safely  made, 
and  I  landed  on  my  own  shores  in  dear  old  Georgia, 
greeted  by  kindred  and  friends,  with  hands  out- 
stretched in  a  hearty  welcome  home. 

And  now  these  recollections  approach  their  close. 
There  are  many  more  thronging,  pulsing  memories 
that  could  interest,  perhaps  instruct.  What  is  here 
gathered  has  been  an  inexpressible  comfort  and  oc- 
cupation in  the  colorless  hours  of  recent  tedious  con- 


a82      CONFEDERATE  STAFF  OFFICER 

valescence,  and  could  be  extended,  but  the  parting 
word  must  be  spoken. 

It  is  farewell  to  the  Army  of  Northern  Virginia  and 
its  ever-glorious  commander. 

His  name,  his  fame  shall  forever  live!  His  sword, 
unstained,  be  ever  a  soldier's  shining  light  and  bright 
example ! 

"  Ah  Muse !    You  dare  not  claim 
A  nobler  man  than  he, 
Nor  nobler  man  hath  less  of  blame 
Nor  blameless  man  hath  purer  name, 
Nor  purer  name  hath  grander  fame, 
Nor    fame,    another    Lee ! " 

His  army  incomparable  holds,  after  long  years,  the 
abiding  love  of  its  surviving  veterans.  Who  that 
marched  with  it,  fought  with  it,  took  part  in  its  vic- 
tories and  its  defeats,  shared  its  sufferings  and  its 
joys,  shall  ever  be  deaf  when  its  deeds  are  sung  or 
mute  when  ring  out  its  plaudits! 

For  my  part,  when  the  time  comes  to  cross  the 
river  like  the  others,  I  shall  be  found  asking  at  the 
gates  above,  "  Where  is  the  Army  of  Northern  Vir- 
ginia? For  there  I  make  my  camp." 


APPENDIX 

"  HEADQUARTERS  NEAR  BEAN'S  STATION, 

"  December  17,  1863. 
"Special  Orders  No.  27. 

"  Major-General  L.  McLaws  is  relieved  from  fur- 
ther duty  with  this  army,  and  will  proceed  to  Au- 
gusta, Georgia,  from  which  place  he  will  report  by 
letter  to  the  adjutant  and  inspector-general,  He  will 
turn  over  the  command  of  the  division  to  the  senior 
brigadier  present. 

"  By   command   of   Lieut.-General   Longstreet. 

"  G.  M.  SORREL, 

"  Lieut. -Col.   and  Assistant  Adjutant-General. 
"  Major-General  McLAWS, 
"  Confederate  States  Army." 


"  CAMP  ON  BEAN'S  STATION  GAP  ROAD, 

"  December  I7th,  1863. 
"  Lieut.-Col.  SORREL, 

"  Assistant  Adjutant-General. 

"  I  have  the  honor  to  acknowledge  the  receipt  of 
Special  Orders  No.  27  from  your  headquarters,  of 
this  date,  relieving  me  from  further  duty  with  this 
army.  If  there  is  no  impropriety  in  making  inquiry, 
and  I  cannot  imagine  there  is,  I  respectfully  request 
to  be  informed  of  the  particular  reason  for  the  order. 
"  Very  respectfully, 

"  L.  McLAws, 

"  Major-General." 
283 


284  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  A 

"  HEADQUARTERS  NEAR  BEAN'S  STATION, 

"  December  I7th,  1863. 
"  Major-General  McLAWs, 

"  Confederate  States  Army. 

"  General :  I  have  the  honor  to  acknowledge  the 
receipt  of  your  note  of  to-day,  asking  for  the  par- 
ticular reason  for  the  issue  of  the  order  relieving  you 
from  duty  with  this  army. 

"  In  reply  I  am  directed  to  say  that  throughout  the 
campaign  on  which  we  are  engaged,  you  have  exhib- 
ited a  want  of  confidence  in  the  efforts  and  plans 
which  the  commanding  general  has  thought  proper 
to  adopt,  and  he  is  apprehensive  that  this  feeling  will 
extend  more  or  less  to  the  troops  tinder  your  com- 
mand. 

"  Under  these  circumstances  the  commanding  gen- 
eral has  felt  that  the  interest  of  the  public  service 
would  be  advanced  by  your  separation  from  him,  and 
-as  he  could  not  himself  leave,  he  decided  upon  the 
issue  of  the  order  which  you  have  received. 

"  I  have  the  honor  to  be,  general,  with  great  re- 
spect, 

"  G.  M.  SORREL, 

"  Lieut. -Col.  and  Assistant  Adjutant-General." 


From  The  Savannah  News,  1899. 

"  During  the  siege  of  Petersburg,  Va.,  there  was  a 
severe  combat  at  Hatcher's  Run,  resisting  one  of 
Grant's  attacks  on  Lee's  right  flank. 

"  Brig.-Gen.  John  Pegram  was  killed  and  Brig.- 
Gen.  Sorrel  was,  for  some  time,  thought  to  be  mor- 
tally wounded. 

"  The  action  took  place  on  February  6,  1865.     A 


CONFEDERATE  STAFF  OFFICER      285 

time-stained  clipping  from  the  New  York  Herald,  a 
few  days  later,  gives  '  Sketches  of  the  Dead  Rebel 
Generals,'  with  some  detail,  indicating  considerable 
acquaintance  with  the  Confederate  personnel. 

"  We  print  what  it  had  to  say  of  our  townsman, 
who,  still  with  us,  is  thus  permitted  to  read  his  own 
obituary  from  the  Herald's  columns: 

"  '  BRIGADIER-GENERAL    G.    M.    SORREL 

"  '  The  rebel  Gen.  Sorrel,  reported  seriously  wounded 
in  the  battle  on  Hatcher's  Run,  has  been  permitted 
to  enjoy  his  rank  but  a  short  time.  He  has  been  but 
lately  appointed  to  the  rank  and  assigned  to  duty. 

"  '  Gen.  Sorrel  was  a  native  of  Georgia,  and,  at  the 
commencement  of  the  war,  was  a  teller  in  the  Cen- 
tral Railroad  Bank  in  Savannah.  He  had  no  mili- 
tary education.  To  his  established  character  as  a 
quiet,  taciturn  business  man  and  accountant  and  to 
some  influence  from  an  extensive  family  to  which 
he  belongs,  he  owes  his  appointment  on  the  staff  of 
Gen.  Longstreet  at  the  beginning  of  the  war.  He 
served  in  the  capacity  of  assistant  adjutant-general 
to  Gen.  Longstreet,  at  Bull  Run,  July  21,  1861,  was 
wounded  at  Antietam,  September  17,  1862,  and  since 
followed  the  varied  fortunes  of  Longstreet.  He  has 
been  advanced  from  a  lieutenancy  to  a  lieutenant-col- 
onelcy in  the  adjutant- general's  department  of  the 
rebel  army. 

"  '  During  the  battle  of  the  Wilderness,  fought  in 
May,  Lieut-Col.  Sorrel  displayed  great  gallantry  and 
evinced  much  ability  in  directing  and  managing  a  di- 
vision whose  commander  had  fallen, -and  of  which  he 
was  placed  in  command  by  Longstreet.  Generals  Lee 
and  Longstreet  awarded  him  high  praise  for  his  con- 


286  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  A 

duct,  and  recommended  him  for  promotion.  He  was 
in  consequence  appointed  brigadier-general,  Novem- 
ber i,  1864,  and  assigned  to  the  command  of  the 
brigade  formerly  commanded  by  Gen.  Wright.  In 
relieving  him  from  duty  as  his  assistant  adjutant-gen- 
eral, Gen.  Longstreet  paid  the  following  compliment 
to  young  Sorrel : 

"  '  "  General  Order  No.  1 5  —  Headquarters  First 
Army  Corps,  November  4,  1864.  Col.  G.  M.  Sorrel, 
assistant  adjutant-general,  having  been  promoted  to 
the  rank  of  brigadier-general,  and  assigned  to  the  com- 
mand of  a  brigade  in  the  Third  Corps,  is  relieved  from 
duty  as  assistant  adjutant-general  of  this  corps.  The 
loss  of  this  officer  to  the  First  Corps,  with  which  he 
has  been  so  permanently  connected  since  its  organiza- 
tion, will  be  severely  felt.  Distinguished  alike  for 
gallantry  in  the  field  and  for  energy  and  skill  in  the 
administration  of  his  department,  his  value  cannot  be 
over-estimated.  He  will  carry  with  him  to  his  new 
command,  so  richly  won,  a  sure  promise  of  success  in 
the  record  of  the  past. 

"  '  "  By  command  of   Lieut.-Gen.   Longstreet. 

"'"Official: 

"  '  "  O.  LATROBE, 
" '  "  Assistant  Adjutant-General." 

"  '  The  rebel  papers  of  February  Qth  report  Gen. 
Sorrel  dead  of  the  wounds  received  on  the  6th  inst.' ' 

From  an  address  delivered  by  Comrade  John  R. 
Turner  before  A.  P.  Hill  Camp  of  Confederate 
Veterans  of  Petersburg,  Va.,  on  the  evening  of 
March  3,  1892. 


CONFEDERATE  STAFF  OFFICER     287 

"  My  letter  to  General  Sorrel  I  mailed  to  Savannah, 
Ga.,  and  was  as  follows : 

" '  PETERSBURG,  VA.,  January  13,  1892. 
"  '  GEN.  G.  M.  SORREL, 
" '  Savannah,  Ga. 

"'DEAR  GENERAL:  Being  anxious  to  know  if 
your  recollection  and  mine  accorded,  as  to  certain 
movements  made  at  the  battle  of  the  Wilderness,  May 
6th,  1864,  in  which  we  both  participated,  I  take  the 
liberty  of  addressing  you  this  communication,  and  hope 
(if  not  trespassing  too  much  upon  your  time)  you 
will  do  me  the  kindness  to  favor  me  with  a  reply. 

" '  You  will  remember  Mahone's  brigade  of  An- 
derson's division  was  quartered  near  Madison  Run 
Station.  We  broke  camp  on  the  morning,  I  think, 
of  the  4th,  and  bivouacked  near  Rapidan  Station  that 
night.  In  the  early  morning  of  the  6th  we  made  a 
forced  march  to  the  battlefield,  which  we  reached 
about  10  o'clock. 

" '  Mahone's  brigade  was  ordered  very  soon  after- 
wards to  the  right  in  the  Wilderness.  After  going 
some  distance  through  the  thicket,  we  encountered 
the  enemy  apparently  bivouacking,  and  little  expect- 
ing any  attack  from  that  direction.  They  fled  pell- 
mell  before  us,  leaving  their  light  camp  equipage  scat- 
tered in  every  direction,  making  scarcely  any  resist- 
ance until  they  reached  the  Orange  Plank  Road; 
when,  having  a  natural  fortification,  strengthened  hur- 
riedly by  them,  they  stoutly  resisted  us.  Just  at  this 
point  you  dashed  up  to  the  front  of  my  regiment,  the 
Twelfth  Virginia,  and  approaching  our  color-bearer, 
Benj,  H.  May  (as  gallant  a  soldier  as  ever  carried  a 
flag  or  shouldered  a  musket,  and  who  was  killed  at 


288  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  A 

Spottsylvania  Court  House  the  I2th  of  May),  asked 
him  for  his  colors  to  lead  the  charge.  He  refused  to 
give  up  his  colors,  but  said :  "  We  will  follow  you." 
With  great  enthusiasm  we  followed  you  in  the  direc- 
tion of  the  Plank  Road.  The  enemy  broke  and  fled 
before  us.  I  remember  seeing  you  then  dash  with 
great  speed  up  the  road  in  the  direction,  I  suppose,  of 
General  Longstreet,  to  inform  him  that  the  way  was 
clear.  Our  color-bearer,  in  the  excitement  of  the  mo- 
ment, failed  to  observe  that  the  other  regiments  of  the 
brigade  had  halted  at  the  Plank  Road.  We  became 
detached  and  passed  over  the  road  forty  or  fifty  yards 
before  halting.  Our  colonel,  D.  A.  Weisiger,  observ- 
ing that  we  were  in  advance  of  the  brigade,  ordered 
us  to  fall  back  in  line  with  the  brigade.  In  doing  so 
the  other  regiments,  mistaking  us  for  the  enemy,  fired 
into  us,  killing  and  wounding  several  of  our  men,  and 
I  always  thought  the  same  volley  killed  General  Jen- 
kins and  wounded  General  Longstreet,  this  apparently 
putting  an  end  to  all  operations  for  the  day,  as  there 
seemed  to  be  very  little  done  afterwards  during  the 
day. 

"  '  I  had  the  pleasure  of  a  short  conversation  with 
General  Longstreet  returning  from  Gettysburg  three 
years  ago,  and  he  told  me  that,  while  he  knew  he 
was  wounded  by  his  own  men,  he  never  knew  exactly 
how  it  occurred.  He  said  everything  was  working 
beautifully  up  to  this  point,  and  what  seemed  to  be 
an  opportunity  for  a  brilliant  victory  was  lost  by  this 
unfortunate  circumstance. 

"  '  I  have  often  thought  of  your  bravery  and  gal- 
lant bearing  as  you  led  us  through  the  woods  up  to 
the  Plank  Road.  I  feel  that  I  would  like  to  know 


CONFEDERATE  STAFF  OFFICER      289 

with  certainty  whether  or  not  my  recollections  are  cor- 
rect as  to  the  part  you  took  in  that  charge. 

"  '  Wishing  you  a  long  life,  much  happiness  and 
great  prosperity,  I  am  very  truly,  your  comrade, 

"  '  JOHN  R.  TURNER.' 

"  To  this  letter  General  Sorrel  replied  as  follows : 

"  *  NEW  YORK,  January  19,  1892. 

"'Lee's  Birthday. 
"  '  JOHN  R.  TURNER,  ESQ., 

"  '  A.  P.  Hill  Camp,  C.  V., 
"  '  Petersburg,  Va. 

"'DEAR  SIR:  Your  letter  of  January  I4th  was 
forwarded  to  me  from  Savannah,  and  I  am  very  glad 
to  hear  from  you.  The  events  you  describe  are  so 
long  ago,  that  one's  memory  may  be  pardoned  if 
slightly  treacherous  as  to  details,  but  I  may  say  at 
once  that  your  recital  of  the  incident  and  the  move- 
ments of  Mahone's  brigade  at  the  battle  of  the  Wilder- 
ness conform  accurately  to  my  own  recollection  of  it, 
excepting,  of  course,  the  too-partial  and  flattering  view 
you  take  of  my  own  personal  service  there.  But  I 
will  give  you  briefly  my  own  version  of  it,  which 
really  is  near  your  own. 

" '  Longstreet's  corps  had  to  move  at  the  earliest 
hour  in  the  morning  of  the  6th  of  May,  and  arriving 
at  the  battlefield  was  just  in  time  to  be  thrown  across 
the  Plank  Road  and  check  the  enemy,  whose  attack 
had  begun  on  A.  P.  Hill's  corps.  This  of  itself  was 
a  magnificent  performance  of  the  corps  to  form  line 
in  the  dense  thicket  after  a  hasty  march,  in  the  midst 
of  troops  suddenly  attacked  and  retiring  from  the 


290  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  A 

front  in  disorder.  Being  done  during  the  enemy's 
attack  it  displayed  the  steadiness  characteristic  of 
Longstreet's  famous  corps.  This  checked  that  at- 
tempt and  for  some  time  there  was  some  quiet.  It 
was  then,  too,  you  will  recollect,  that  General  Lee  was 
about  to  lead  the  Texas  Brigade  into  action,  so  threat- 
ening was  the  situation.  He  was  almost  forcibly 
stopped  by  his  officers  and  the  entreaties  of  the  sol- 
diers. It  was  soon  after  this  that  General  Longstreet 
said  to  me  that  if  I  were  to  collect  some  troops  over 
on  the  right,  get  them  in  good  line  and  in  touch  with 
each  other,  and  make  a  strong  movement  forward, 
swinging  by  the  right,  he  felt  sure  a  splendid  success 
would  follow.  I  proceeded  to  follow  out  these  direc- 
tions, with  full  authority  to  control  the  movement. 
There  were  three  brigades,  in  addition,  perhaps,  to 
other  troops,  that  I  succeeded  in  getting  into  good 
form  and  ready  to  move.  These  were  Mahone's, 
Wofford's,  and  Anderson's.  The  movement  soon  be- 
gan, at  a  given  signal,  our  right  swinging  swiftly 
around,  driving  everything  before  it.  The  lines  in 
front  of  us  made  some  sharp  resistance,  but  they  were 
quickly  overcome,  and  our  troops,  Mahone's  brigade 
notably  distinguished  in  the  affair,  rushed  forward 
through  the  dense  undergrowth,  carrying  everything 
before  them.  It  was  then  that  the  incident  occurred 
of  which  you  speak,  about  poor  Ben  May.  He  was 
doing  all  that  man  could  do  with  his  colors,  but  seemed 
to  be  somewhat  embarrassed  by  the  bushes,  and  I 
thought  perhaps  I  might  help  to  get  them  forward, 
mounted  as  I  was.  As  you  say,  he  positively  refused 
to  let  them  leave  his  own  hands.  I  was  filled  with 
admiration  of  his  splendid  courage.  I  think  it  was 
on  the  1 2th  that  poor  May  was  shot,  and  I  received 


CONFEDERATE  STAFF  OFFICER     291 

from  a  member  of  the  Twelfth  Virginia  an  affection- 
ate message  that  he  sent  me.  I  have  always  remem- 
bered him  as  one  of  the  bravest  of  Confederate  sol- 
diers. The  Twelfth  Virginia  did  splendid  service  that 
day,  and  the  regiment  and  myself  became  great  friends. 
Till  the  end  of  the  war,  whenever  in  marches  or  else- 
where I  met  it,  I  was  always  honored  with  its  friendly 
greetings.  As  our  troops  reached  the  Plank  Road, 
you  will  recollect  that  a  volley  was  given  to  the  enemy, 
who  were  trying  to  rally  on  the  opposite  side.  By 
this  volley  General  Wadsworth  and  his  horse  (while 
trying  to  rally  his  men)  were  both  killed,  and  his 
soldiers  could  make  no  stand  against  us.  Our  rapid 
movements  through  the  woods  had  disordered  our 
line,  as  you  correctly  describe  it.  Leaving  them  for 
a  moment,  while  recovering  good  order,  I  hastened 
to  General  Longstreet  with  a  view  to  bringing  up 
supports  to  follow  up  our  splendid  success.  I  met 
the  General  near  by,  Jenkins's  brigade  immediately 
behind  him.  He  had  heard  the  sound  of  our  rifles, 
and,  with  the  quick  instinct  of  the  general  that  he 
was,  was  following  us  up  with  a  strong  and  power- 
ful support  to  pursue  his  victory.  I  had  scarcely 
taken  more  than  a  few  steps  with  him  when  a  sud- 
den and  unexpected  fire,  at  first  scattering,  then  heavier, 
broke  out  from  our  men.  The  General  was  shot  down 
by  my  side,  and  at  the  same  time  General  Jenkins, 
one  or  two  staff  officers,  and  several  couriers.  I  have 
never  known  accurately  who  started  this  fire;  there 
is  yet  some  confusion  about  it,  but  it  was  fatal,  and 
had  the  effect,  by  disabling  the  General,  of  putting  a 
stop  to  the  heavy  blow  he  was  about  inflicting  on  the 
disordered  enemy.  Later  in  the  day,  you  will  remem- 
ber, we  made  another  attack,  rather  more  direct,  with 


292  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  A 

a  strong  force,  on  the  enemy,  who  had  got  behind  some 
entrenchments;  but  we  there  sustained  a  repulse,  and 
that  about  closed  the  principal  features  of  the  battle 
of  the  Wilderness  on  the  6th  of  May. 

"  '  The  importance  of  our  flank  attack,  which  I  have 
described  here  so  briefly,  was  not  under-estimated  by 
the  enemy  in  his  subsequent  reports.  The  official  re- 
port of  the  battle  by  General  Grant,  or  his  immediate 
subordinate,  describes  the  tremendous  attack  of  these 
three  brigades,  which  turned  his  own  left  flank  and 
nearly  brought  about  a  widespread  disaster  to  the 
Federal  army.  I  cannot  but  think  it  would  have  ended 
so,  had  not  General  Longstreet,  in  the  flush  of  his  suc- 
cess, and  with  ardent,  fresh  troops  in  hand,  been  struck 
down  in  the  very  act  of  delivering  this  blow. 

"  '  I  am  sketching  this  off  to  you  hastily,  and  en- 
tirely from  memory,  and  while  there  may  be  some 
omissions  or  inaccuracies  as  to  detail,  I  think  the  ac- 
count is  not  far  from  wrong. 

"  '  With  best  wishes,  I  am,  yours  very  truly  and  sin- 
cerely, 

"  '  G.  M.  SORREL.'  ' 

From  Colonel  Freemantle's   (Coldstream  Guards} 
"  Three  Months  in  the  Southern  States." 

"  3Oth  June,  Tuesday. —  This  morning  before 
marching  from  Chambersburg,  General  Longstreet 
introduced  me  to  the  Commander-in-Chief.  General 
Lee  is,  almost  without  exception,  the  handsomest  man 
of  his  age  I  ever  saw.  He  is  56  years  old,  tall,  broad 
shouldered,  very  well  made,  well  set  up,  a  thorough 
soldier  in  appearance,  and  his  manners  are  most  cour- 
teous and  full  of  dignity.  He  is  a  perfect  gentleman 
in  every  respect.  I  imagine  no  man  has  so  few  en- 


CONFEDERATE  STAFF  OFFICER      293 

ernies,  or  is  so  universally  esteemed.  Throughout  the 
South,  all  agree  in  pronouncing  him  to  be  as  near  per- 
fection as  man  can  be.  He  has  none  of  the  small 
vices,  such  as  smoking,  drinking,  chewing  or  swear- 
ing, and  his  bitterest  enemy  never  accused  him  of  any 
of  the  greater  ones.  He  generally  wears  a  well-worn 
long  gray  jacket,  a  high  black  felt  hat,  and  blue  trous- 
ers tucked  into  Wellington  boots.  I  never  saw  him 
carry  arms,  and  the  only  mark  of  his  military  rank 
are  the  three  stars  on  his  collar.  He  rides  a  hand- 
some horse  which  is  extremely  well  groomed.  He, 
himself,  is  very  neat  in  his  dress  and  person,  and  in 
the  most  arduous  marches  he  always  looks  smart  and 
clean. 

"  In  the  old  Army  he  was  always  considered  one 
of  its  best  officers ;  and  at  the  outbreak  of  these  troubles 
he  was  lieutenant-colonel  of  the  Second  Cavalry.  He 
was  a  rich  man  —  but  his  fine  estate  was  one  of  the 
first  to  fall  into  the  enemy's  hands.  I  believe  he  has 
never  slept  in  a  house  since  he  has  commanded  the 
Virginian  army,  and  he  invariably  declines  all  offers 
of  hospitality  for  fear  the  person  offering  it  may  after- 
wards get  into  trouble  for  having  sheltered  the  rebel 
General." 


From  Viscount  Wolseley. 
"  OFFICE  OF  COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF, 

"LONDON,  loth  July,  1899. 

"  MY  DEAR  GENERAL  SORREL  :  I  have  great  pleas- 
ure in  complying  with  your  request,  and  hope  Mrs. 
Sorrel  will  do  me  the  honor  of  accepting  the  enclosed 
latest  photograph  I  have  had  taken. 

"  I  am  a  collector  of  autograph  letters,  but  I  lack 
letters  from  the  Confederate  commanders.  I  am  very 


294  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  A 

glad  to  have  your  letter  to  add  to  my  collection.  If 
you  happen  to  have  any  letters  from  the  Southern  gen- 
erals that  you  could  spare  me  I  should  esteem  it  a 
great  favor. 

"  Believe  me  to  be,  with  a  very  keen  and  pleasant 
remembrance  of  all  the  kindness  I  received  when  in 
the  Southern  States,  "  Sincerely  yours, 

"  WOLSELEY. 

"  To  GENERAL  SORREL, 

"  New  York." 


Thanks  of  the  Confederate  Congress  to  Lieutenant- 
General  James  Longstreet  and  his  Command. 

"  Resolved  by  the  Congress  of  the  Confederate  States 

of  America. 

i 

"  That  the  thanks  of  Congress  are  due  and  hereby 
cordially  tendered  to  Lieutenant-General  James  Long- 
street  and  the  officers  and  men  of  his  command  for 
their  patriotic  services  and  brilliant  achievements  in 
the  present  war,  sharing  as  they  have,  the  arduous 
fatigues  and  privations  of  many  campaigns  in  Vir- 
ginia, Maryland,  Pennsylvania,  Georgia,  and  Tennes- 
see, and  participating  in  nearly  every  great  battle 
fought  in  those  States,  the  commanding  general  ever 
displaying  great  ability,  skill,  and  prudence  in  com- 
mand, and  the  officers  and  men  the  most  heroic  brav- 
ery, fortitude,  and  energy  in  every  duty  they  have 
been  called  upon  to  perform. 

"Resolved,  That  the  President  be  requested  to 
transmit  a  copy  of  the  foregoing  resolution  to  Lieu- 
tenant-General Longstreet  for  publication  to  his  com- 
mand. 

"  Approved  February  17,  1864." 


CONFEDERATE  STAFF  OFFICER      295 

/.  Longstreet  to  Secretary  of  War. 

"  HEADQUARTERS  NEAR  CHATTANOOGA, 

"  September  26th,  1863. 
"  HON.  J.  A.  SEDDON,  Secretary  of  War. 

"  SIR  :  May  I  take  the  liberty  to  advise  you  of 
our  condition  and  our  wants.  On  the  2Oth  instant, 
after  a  very  severe  battle,  we  gained  a  complete  and 
glorious  victory  —  the  most  complete  victory  of  the 
war,  except  perhaps  the  first  Manassas.  On  the 
morning  of  the  2ist  General  Bragg  asked  my  opin- 
ion as  to  our  best  course.  I  suggested  at  once  to 
strike  at  Burnside  and  if  he  made  his  escape  to  march 
upon  Rosecrans's  communication  in  rear  of  Nash- 
ville. He  seemed  to  adopt  the  suggestion  and  gave 
the  order  to  march  at  four  o'clock  in  the  afternoon. 
The  right  wing  of  the  army  marched  some  eight  or 
ten  miles,  my  command  following  next  day  at  day- 
light. I  was  halted  at  the  crossing  of  the  Chicka- 
mauga,  and  on  the  night  of  the  22d  the  army  was 
ordered  to  march  for  Chattanooga,  thus  giving  the 
enemy  two  days  and  a  half  to  strengthen  the  forti- 
fications here  already  prepared  for  him  by  ourselves. 
Here  we  have  remained  under  instructions  that  the 
enemy  shall  not  be  assaulted.  To  express  my  con- 
viction in  a  few  words,  our  chief  has  done  but  one 
thing  that  he  ought  to  have  done  since  I  joined  his 
army  —  that  was  to  order  the  attack  upon  the  2Oth. 
All  other  things  that  he  has  done  he  ought  not  to 
have  done.  I  am  convinced  that  nothing  but  the 
hand  of  God  can  save  us  and  help  us  as  long  as  we 
have  our  present  commander. 

"  Now  to  our  wants.  Can't  you  send  us  General 
Lee?  The  army  in  Virginia  can  operate  defensively, 


296  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  A 

while  our  operations  here  should  be  offensive,  until 
we  have  recovered  Tennessee  at  all  events. 

"  We  need  some  such  great  mind  as  General  Lee's 
(nothing  more)  to  accomplish  this.  You  will  be  sur- 
prised that  this  army  has  neither  organization  nor 
mobility  and  I  have  doubts  if  this  commander  can  give 
it  to  them.  In  an  ordinary  war  I  could  serve  without 
complaint  under  any  one  whom  the  Government  might 
place  in  authority;  but  we  have  too  much  at  stake  in 
this  to  remain  quiet  under  such  distressing  circum- 
stances. Our  most  precious  blood  is  now  flowing  in 
streams  from  the  Atlantic  to  the  Rocky  Mountains 
and  may  yet  be  exhausted  before  we  have  succeeded. 
Then  goes  honor,  treasure,  and  independence.  When 
I  came  here  I  hoped  to  find  our  commander  willing 
and  anxious  to  do  all  things  that  would  aid  us  in  our 
great  cause  and  ready  to  receive  what  aid  he  could 
get  from  his  subordinates. 

"  It  seems  that  I  was  greatly  mistaken.  It  seems 
that  he  cannot  adopt  and  adhere  to  any  plan  or  course 
whether  of  his  own  or  some  one  else.  I  desire  to 
impress  upon  your  mind  that  there  is  no  exagger- 
ation in  these  statements.  On  the  contrary  I  have 
failed  to  express  my  convictions  to  the  fullest  extent. 
All  that  I  can  add  without  making  this  letter  exceed- 
ingly long  is  to  pray  you  to  help  us  and  speedily. 

"  I  remain,  with  the  greatest  respect,  your  most 
obedient  servant, 

"  J.    LONGSTREET, 

"  Lieutenant  General" 


CONFEDERATE  STAFF  OFFICER      297 

Captain  H.  H.  Perry,  A.  A.   G.,  Sorrel's  Brigade, 

writes  of  Grant's  first  demand  for  Lee's 

surrender  at  Appomattox. 

"THE  EVENTFUL  NIGHT 

"  It  was  night,  April  7th,  1865.  We  had  crossed 
the  river,  near  Farmville,  and  had  taken  up  a  posi- 
tion about,  as  near  as  I  can  remember,  a  mile  from 
the  crossing,  which  the  Confederates  had  attempted 
to  burn,  but  unsuccessfully.  General  Miles,  com- 
manding a  Federal  brigade,  made  a  mad  attempt  to  <- 
throw  the  Confederates  into  confusion  on  their  left 
by  a  flank  movement  (perhaps  that  was  his  purpose), 
but  it  was  a  very  unfortunate  move,  for  his  lines  were 
in  a  few  minutes  nearly  cut  to  pieces  and  his  brigade 
placed  hors  de  combat.  A  furious  picket  firing  and 
sharp-shooting  began  on  both  sides,  while  the  wounded 
and  dead  Federals  lay  between  the  two  lines. 

"  Mahone's  division  was  now  the  rearguard  at  this 
point  of  General  Lee's  army.  General  Lee's  forces 
were  reduced  now  to  their  minimum  strength,  but  a 
fiercer,  more  determined  body  of  men  never  lived. 
They  simply  waited  for  General  Lee's  orders. 

"  About  five  o'clock  p.  m.  a  flag  of  truce  appeared 
in  front  of  General  Sorrel's  brigade  (General 
Wright's  old  brigade),  of  which  the  writer  of  this 
account  was  the  adjutant-general.  A  courier  was 
sent  to  division  headquarters  to  announce  it.  Colonel 
Tayloe,  a  splendid  young  Virginian,  had  been 
assigned  temporarily  to  the  command  of  General 
Sorrel's  brigade,  General  Sorrel  having  been  almost 
mortally  wounded  near  Petersburg.  In  a  short  while 
Colonel  Tayloe  was  ordered  to  send  a  staff  officer  to 
answer  to  the  flag  of  truce. 


298  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  A 

"  The  writer  was  assigned  to  this  duty  at  the  Con- 
federate front  lines.  As  the  top  of  the  earthworks 
was  reached,  a  number  of  Federal  sharpshooters  fired 
at  me,  and  two  balls  passed  through  the  uniform  coat 
I  wore,  and  one  ball  wounded  a  Confederate  soldier 
in  the  hand,  who  had  risen  up  with  others  from  behind 
the  works,  out  of  curiosity  to  see  what  was  going 
to  take  place.  That  ended  the  truce  business  for  that 
afternoon.  After  nightfall  and  after  everything  on 
both  sides  had  lapsed  into  silence,  pickets  were  put  in 
front  of  our  lines  about  one  hundred  yards.  Captain 
James  W.  English,  one  of  the  bravest,  coolest,  most 
faithful  and  vigilant  officers  in  the  Confederate  Army, 
was  in  charge  of  the  line  in  front  of  our  brigade.  I 
had  selected  him  for  the  reason  that  I  knew  that  he 
would  not  fail  me  if  I  depended  on  his  courage  and 
faith.  Colonel  Tayloe  knew  nothing  of  our  com- 
mand or  its  officers,  and  the  responsibility  rested  on 
me  to  select  the  right  man  in  the  crisis  there  was  now 
upon  us.  We  apprehended  a  night  attack. 

"  About  nine  o'clock  at  night,  as  soon  as  the  moon 
was  about  to  rise,  Captain  English  reported  that  a 
flag  of  truce  was  again  offered  on  the  Federal  lines 
on  our  front.  It  was  reported  again  at  our  division 
headquarters  and  I  was  again  sent  out  to  answer  it  as 
before.  I  put  on  an  army  revolver,  put  aside  my 
sword,  and  advanced  about  fifty  yards  from  our  pick- 
ets, halted,  and  called  for  the  flag.  Where  I  stood 
there  were  scattered  around  several  Federal  dead  and 
wounded. 

One  of  the  latter  asked  me  to  do  something  for 
him.  I  told  him  I  would  very  soon,  making  this 
promise  only  to  encourage  him,  for  I  could  really  do 
nothing  for  lack  of  authority,  as  well  as  lack  of  means. 


CONFEDERATE  STAFF  OFFICER      299 

I  asked  his  name  and  was  rather  astonished  when 
he  said  he  was  General  Miles's  adjutant-general  and 
that  his  name  was  Boyd,  as  I  now  remember  it.  A 
response  to  my  call  in  front  took  my  attention,  though 
I  remember  that  the  wounded  officer  said  he  had  been 
shot  through  the  thigh. 

"  I  advanced  some  distance  and  met  a  very  hand- 
somely dressed  Federal  officer.  We  stepped  in  front 
of  each  other  about  seven  or  eight  feet  apart.  I  soon 
recognized  the  fact  that  my  worn  Confederate  uni- 
form and  slouch  hat,  even  in  the  dim  light,  would 
not  compare  favorably  with  his  magnificence;  but  as 
I  am  six  feet  high  I  drew  myself  up  as  proudly  as  I 
could,  and  put  on  the  appearance  as  well  as  possible 
of  being  perfectly  satisfied  with  my  personal  exte- 
rior. The  officer  spoke  first  introducing  himself  as 
Gen.  Seth  Williams,  of  General  Grant's  staff. 

"  After  I  had  introduced  myself,  he  felt  in  his  side 
pocket  for  documents,  as  I  thought,  but  the  document 
was  a  very  nice-looking  silver  flask,  as  well  as  I  could 
distinguish.  He  remarked  that  he  hoped  I  would  not 
think  it  was  an  unsoldierly  courtesy  if  he  offered  me 
some  very  fine  brandy.  I  will  own  up  now  that  I 
wanted  that  drink  awfully.  Worn  down,  hungry  and 
dispirited,  it  would  have  been  a  gracious  godsend  if 
some  old  Confederate  and  I  could  have  emptied  that 
flask  between  us  in  that  dreadful  hour  of  misfortune. 
But  I  raised  myself  about  an  inch  higher,  if  possible, 
bowed  and  refused  politely,  trying  to  produce  the 
ridiculous  appearance  of  having  feasted  on  champagne 
and  pound-cake  not  ten  minutes  before,  and  that  I 
had  not  the  slightest  use  for  so  plebeian  a  drink  as  *  fine 
brandy.'  He  was  a  true  gentleman,  begged  pardon, 
and  placed  the  flask  in  his  pocket  again,  without  touch- 


300  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  A 

ing  the  contents  in  my  presence.  If  he  had  taken  a 
drink,  and  my  Confederate  olfactories  had  obtained  a 
whiff  of  the  odor  of  it,  it  is  possible  that  I  should 
have  '  caved.'  The  truth  is,  I  had  not  eaten  two 
ounces  in  two  days,  and  I  had  my  coat-tail  then  full 
of  corn,  waiting  to  parch  it  as  soon  as  opportunity 
might  present  itself.  I  did  not  leave  it  behind  me 
because  I  had  nobody  I  could  trust  it  with. 

"  As  an  excuse  which  I  felt  I  ought  to  make  for 
refusing  his  proffered  courtesy,  I  rather  haughtily 
said  that  I  had  been  sent  forward  only  to  receive  any 
communication  that  was  offered  and  could  not  prop- 
erly accept  or  offer  any  courtesies.  In  fact,  if  I  had 
offered  what  I  could  it  would  have  taken  my  corn. 

"  He  then  handed  to  me  a  letter,  which  he  said  was 
from  General  Grant  to  General  Lee,  and  asked  that 
General  Lee  should  get  it  immediately  if  possible.  I 
made  no  reply  except  to  ask  him  if  that  was  all  we  had 
to  transact,  or  something  to  that  effect.  He  said  that 
was  all.  We  bowed  very  profoundly  to  each  other 
and  turned  away. 

"  In  twenty  miuntes  after  I  got  back  in  our  lines, 
a  Confederate  courier  riding  a  swift  horse  had  placed 
in  General  Lee's  hands  the  letter  which  was  handed 
to  me,  the  first  demand  for  surrender  of  his  devoted 
army.  In  an  hour's  time  we  were  silently  pursuing  our 
way  toward  the  now  famous  field  of  Appomattox. 
We  marched  all  day  of  the  8th  of  April  and  slept  in 
bivouac  not  more  than  three  or  four  miles  from 
Appomattox,  where  the  demand  was  made  again  and 
was  acceded  to,  and  the  Confederacy  of  the  South 
went  down  in  defeat,  but  with  glory. 

"  We  arrived  on  the  field  of  Appomattox  about  9 
o'clock  on  the  gth  day  of  April,  the  day  of  capitula- 


CONFEDERATE  STAFF  OFFICER      301 

tion.  The  negotiations  lasted  during  that  day.  The 
general  order  from  General  Lee  was  read  to  the  army 
on  the  loth  of  April.  That  is,  as  I  remember  it, 
General  Lee  published  his  last  order  to  his  soldiers 
on  that  day.  I  sat  down  and  copied  it  on  a  piece 
of  Confederate  paper,  using  a  drum-head  for  a  desk, 
the  best  I  could  do.  I  carried  this  copy  to  General 
Lee,  and  asked  him  to  sign  it  for  me.  He  signed  it 
and  I  have  it  now.  It  is  the  best  authority  along  with 
my  parole  that  I  can  produce  why,  after  that  day,  I 
no  longer  raised  a  soldier's  hand  for  the  South. 
There  were  tears  in  his  eyes  when  he  signed  it  for 
me,  and  when  I  turned  to  walk  away  there  were 
tears  in  my  own  eyes.  He  was  in  all  respects  the 
greatest  man  that  ever  lived,  and  as  an  humble  officer 
of  the  South,  I  thank  Heaven  that  I  had  the  honor  of 
following  him. 
"  Waynesboro,  Georgia,  1896." 


Some   extracts  from   Colonel   Freemantle's   "  Three 
Months  in  the  Southern  States." 

"  GETTYSBURG  —  PICKETT'S  CHARGE 

"  I  determined  to  make  my  way  to  General  Long- 
street.  It  was  then  about  2.30.  After  passing  Gen- 
eral Lee  and  his  staff  I  rode  on  through  the  woods 
in  the  direction  in  which  I  had  left  Longstreet.  I 
.soon  began  to  meet  many  wounded  men  returning 
from  the  front;  many  of  them  asked  in  piteous  tones 
the  way  to  a  doctor  or  an  ambulance.  The  farther 
I  got  the  greater  became  the  number  of  the  wounded. 
Some  were  walking  alone  on  crutches  composed  of 
two  rifles,  others  were  supported  by  men  less  badly 
wounded  than  themselves,  and  others  were  carried 


302  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  A 

on  stretchers  by  the  ambulance  corps;  but  in  no  case 
did  I  see  a  sound  man  helping  the  wounded  to  the 
rear,  unless  he  carried  the  red  badge  of  the  ambu- 
lance corps.  I  saw  all  this  in  much  less  time  than 
it  takes  to  write  it,  and  although  astonished  to  meet 
such  vast  numbers  of  wounded,  I  had  not  seen  enough 
to  give  me  an  idea  of  the  real  extent  of  the  mis- 
chief. 

"  When  I  got  close  to  General  Longstreet  I  saw 
one  of  his  regiments  advancing  through  the  woods 
in  good  order;  so  thinking  I  was  in  time  to  see  the 
attack  I  remarked  to  the  General  that  '/  wouldn't 
have  missed  this  for  anything.'  Longstreet  was 
seated  at  the  top  of  a  snake  fence  at  the  edge  of  the 
wood  and  looking  perfectly  calm  and  unperturbed. 
He  replied :  '  The  devil  you  wouldn't !  I  would 
liked  to  have  missed  it  very  much;  we've  attacked 
and  been  repulsed ;  look  there ! ' 

"  For  the  first  time  I  then  had  a  view  of  the  open 
space  between  the  two  positions  and  saw  it  covered 
with  Confederates  slowly  and  sulkily  returning  to- 
ward us  in  small,  broken  parties  under  a  heavy  fire  of 
artillery.  The  General  told  me  that  Pickett's  division 
had  succeeded  in  carrying  the  enemy's  position  and 
capturing  the  guns,  but  after  remaining  there  some 
minutes  it  had  been  forced  to  retire.  No  person  could 
have  been  more  calm  or  self-possessed  than  General 
Longstreet  under  these  trying  circumstances,  ag- 
gravated as  they  now  were  by  the  movements  of  the 
enemy,  who  began  to  show  a  strong  disposition  to 
advance.  I  could  now  thoroughly  appreciate  the 
term  '  Bulldog/  which  I  had  heard  applied  to  him  by 
the  soldiers. 


CONFEDERATE  STAFF  OFFICER      303 

Difficulties  seemed  to  make  no  other  impression  upon 
him  than  to  make  him  a  little  more  savage. 

"  Major  Walton  was  the  only  officer  with  him  when 
I  came  up  —  all  the  rest  had  been  put  into  the  charge. 
In  a  few  minutes  Major  Latrobe  arrived  on  foot, 
carrying  his  saddle,  having  just  had  his  horse  killed. 
Colonel  Sorrel  was  also  in  the  same  predicament  and 
Captain  Goree's  horse  was  wounded  in  the  mouth. 

"  The  General  was  making  the  best  arrangements 
in  his  power  to  resist  the  threatened  advance,  by  ad- 
vancing some  artillery,  rallying  the  stragglers. 

"  I  remember  seeing  a  general  come  up  to  him  and 
report  that  he  was  '  unable  to  bring  up  his  men  again.' 
Longstreet  turned  upon  him  and  replied  with  some 
sarcasm,  *  Very  well,  never  mind,  then,  General,  just 
let  them  remain  where  they  are;  the  enemy's  going 
to  advance  and  it  will  spare  you  the  trouble.'  He 
asked  for  something  to  drink.  I  gave  him  some  rum 
out  of  my  silver  flask,  which  I  begged  he  would  keep 
in  remembrance  of  the  occasion ;  he  smiled,  and  to  my 
great  satisfaction  accepted  the  memorial. 

If  Longstreet's  conduct  was  admirable,  that  of  Gen- 
eral Lee  was  perfectly  sublime.  He  was  engaged  in 
rallying  and  encouraging  the  broken  troops,  and 
was  riding  about  a  little  in  front  of  the  wood,  quite 
alone  —  the  whole  of  his  staff  being  engaged  in  a 
similar  manner  farther  to  the  rear.  His  face,  which 
is  always  placid  and  cheerful,  did  not  show  signs 
,of  the  slightest  disappointment,  care,  or  annoyance; 
and  he  was  addressing  every  soldier  he  met,  a  few 
words  of  encouragement,  such  as :  *  All  this  will 
come  right  in  the  end,  we'll  talk  it  over  afterwards; 
but  in  the  meantime  all  good  men  must  rally.  We 


304  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  A 

want  all  good  and  true  men  just  now,'  etc.  He  spoke 
to  all  the  wounded  men  that  passed  him,  and  the 
slightly  wounded  he  exhorted  '  to  bind  up  their  hurts 
and  take  up  a  musket  in  this  emergency.'  Very  few 
failed  to  answer  his  appeal,  and  I  saw  many  badly 
wounded  men  take  off  their  hats  and  cheer  him.  He 
said  to  me,  '  This  has  been  a  sad  day  for  us,  Colonel, 
a  sad  day;  but  we  can't  expect  always  to  gain  vic- 
tories.' " 

[From  "  The  Battle  of  the  Wilderness,"  by  General  Morris 
Schaff,  pages  267-273,  here  quoted  with  the  kind  permission  of 
the  author.  Boston  and  New  York:  Houghton  Mifflin  &  Com- 
pany, 1910.] 

General  M.  L.  Smith,  a  New  Yorker  and  a  dis- 
tinguished graduate  of  West  Point,  doing  engineer 
duty  with  Lee's  army,  had  examined  our  left,  and, 
finding  it  inviting  attack,  so  reported  to  Longstreet. 
Now  there  is  on  Longstreet's  staff  a  tall,  trim,  grace- 
ful young  Georgian,  with  keen  dark  eyes  and  engaging 
face,  whose  courage  and  ability  to  command,  Long- 
street  knows  well,  for  he  has  been  with  him  on  many 
a  field.  His  name  is  Sorrel,  and  his  gallant  clay  is 
lying  in  the  cemetery  at  Savannah,  the  long,  pendulant 
Southern  moss  swaying  softly  over  it.  His  "  Recol- 
lections of  a  Confederate  Staff  Officer  "  has  for  me, 
like  all  the  books  I  love,  a  low,  natural,  wild  music; 
and,  as  sure  as  I  live,  the  spirits  who  dwell  in  that 
self-sown  grove  called  Literature  were  by  his  side 
when  he  wrote  the  last  page  of  his  Recollections,  his 
pen  keeping  step  with  his  beating  heart.  Longstreet, 
on  hearing  Smith's  report,  called  Sorrel  to  him,  and 
told  him  to  collect  some  scattered  brigades,  form  them 
in  a  good  line  on  our  left,  and  then,  with  his  right 
pushed  forward,  to  hit  hard.  "  But  don't  start  till 


CONFEDERATE  STAFF  OFFICER      305 

you  have  everything  ready.  I  shall  be  waiting  for 
your  gun-fire,  and  be  on  hand  with  fresh  troops  for 
further  advance,"  said  Longstreet. 

Sorrel  picked  up  G.  T.  Anderson's,  Wofford's, 
Davis's  of  Heth's,  and  Mahone's  brigades,  and  led 
them  to  the  old  unfinished  railroad  bed;  and,  having 
stretched  them  out  on  it,  formed  them,  facing  north, 
for  advance.  Of  course,  had  Gibbon  obeyed  Han- 
cock's order,  this  movement  of  Sorrel's  could  not  have 
been  made ;  as  it  was,  the  coast  was  clear.  On  Birney's 
left,  as  everywhere  along  the  front,  our  forces  were 
in  several  broken  lines,  and  those  of  the  first  had 
changed  places  with  the  second,  to  take  advantage  of 
the  little  fires  at  which  they  had  boiled  their  coffee  to 
boil  some  for  themselves ;  for  many  of  the  troops  had 
not  had  a  bite  since  half-past  three  in  the  morning, 
and  it  was  now  past  eleven.  Save  the  skirmish  line, 
the  men  were  lying  down,  and  not  expecting  any 
danger,  when  suddenly,  from  the  heavy  undergrowth, 
Sorrel's  three  widely-winged  brigades  burst  on  their 
flank  with  the  customary  yell,  and  before  our  people 
could  change  front,  or,  in  some  cases,  even  form,  they 
were  on  them.  Fighting  McAlister  tried  his  best  to 
stay  the  tempest,  and  so  did  others,  many  little  groups 
®f  their  men  selling  their  lives  dearly;  for  the  color- 
bearers  planted  their  banners  on  nearly  every  knoll, 
and  brave  young  fellows  would  rally  around  them; 
but  being  overpowered,  panic  set  in,  and  the  lines 
melted  away. 

As  soon  as  Carroll,  Lewis  A.  Grant,  Birney,  Webb, 
and  Wadsworth  heard  Sorrel's  quick  volleys,  they 
were  all  on  their  feet  at  once,  for  the  character  of 
the  firing  and  the  cheers  told  them  that  Peril  had 
snapped  its  chain  and  was  loose.  In  a  few  minutes 


3o6  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  A 

fleeing  individuals,  then  squads,  and  then  broken  regi- 
ments, began  to  pour  through  the  woods  from  the  left. 

Kershaw  and  Field,  being  notified  by  Longstreet  to 
resume  the  offensive  as  soon  as  they  should  hear  Sor- 
rel, now  pressed  forward,  seriously  and  exultingly  ac- 
tive. Wadsworth,  to  stay  the  threatening  disaster 
(for  that  lunatic,  Panic,  travels  fast,  and  every  officer 
of  experience  dreads  its  first  breath),  flew  to  the 
Thirty-seventh  Massachusetts  at  the  head  of  Eustis's 
brigade,  which  was  just  getting  back  from  the  junc- 
tion, and  ordered  Edwards,  a  resolute  man,  to  throw 
his  regiment  across  the  front  of  Field,  who,  with  sev- 
eral pieces  of  artillery  raking  the  road,  was  advancing. 
The  Thirty-seventh  moved  quickly  by  flank  into  the 
woods,  and  then,  undismayed,  heard  the  command, 
"  Forward."  And  with  it  went  my  friends,  Lieuten- 
ants Casey  and  Chalmers,  and  that  pleasant  and  true 
one  of  many  a  day,  Captain  "  Tom  "  Colt  of  Pitts- 
field,  whose  mother  was  a  saint.  "  You  have  made 
a  splendid  charge ! "  exclaimed  Wadsworth,  and  so 
they  had- — the  ground  behind  them  showed  it;  they 
thrust  Field  back,  gaining  a  little  respite  for  all  hands 
before  disaster;  and  very  valuable  it  proved  to  be,  for 
some  of  the  broken  commands  thereby  escaped  utter 
destruction. 

While  Field  and  Kershaw  assailed  Carroll,  Birney, 
and  Wadsworth  fiercely,  fire  was  racing  through  the 
woods,  adding  its  horrors  to  Sorrel's  advance;  and 
with  the  wind  driving  the  smoke  before  him,  he  came 
on,  sweeping  everything.  Seeing  his  lines  falter,  Sor- 
rel dashed  up  to  the  color-bearer  of  the  Twelfth  Vir- 
ginia, "  Ben  "  May,  and  asked  for  the  colors  to  lead 
the  charge.  "  We  will  follow  you,"  said  the  smiling 
youth  spiritedly,  refusing  to  give  them  up;  and  so 


CONFEDERATE  STAFF  OFFICER      307 

they  did.  In  the  midst  of  the  raging  havoc,  Webb, 
under  instructions  from  Wadsworth,  now  in  an  almost 
frantic  state  of  mind,  tried  to  align  some  troops  be- 
yond the  road  so  as  to  meet  Sorrel,  whose  fire  was 
scourging  the  flanks  of  Carroll  and  the  Green  Moun- 
tain men,  through  whom  and  around  whom  crowds  of 
fugitives,  deaf  to  all  appeals  to  rally,  were  forcing 
their  way  to  the  rear.  But  the  organizations,  so 
severely  battered  in  the  morning,  were  crumbling  so 
fast,  and  the  tumult  was  so  high,  that  Webb  saw  it 
was  idle  to  expect  they  could  hold  together  in  any 
attempted  change  of  position;  he  therefore  returned 
to  his  command,  and  quickly  brought  the  Fifty-sixth 
Massachusetts,  Griswold's  regiment,  alongside  the 
road.  Fortunately  his  Nineteenth  Maine,  withdrawn 
during  the  lull  to  replenish  its  ammunition,  had  been 
wheeled  up  by  the  gallant  Connor  at  the  first  ominous 
volley  from  the  South.  They  had  barely  braced  them- 
selves on  the  road  before  Carroll,  and  then  the  old 
Vermont  brigade,  had  to  go;  and  now  Connor  and 
Griswold  open  on  Sorrel,  checking  him  up  roundly. 

Wadsworth  undertook  to  wheel  the  remnants  of 
Rice's  regiments  who  had  stood  by  him,  so  as  to  fire 
into  the  enemy  on  the  other  side  of  the  road.  In 
trying  to  make  this  movement  he  ran  squarely  onto 
Perrin's  Alabama  brigade,  of  Anderson's  division, 
which  had  relieved  a  part  of  Field's,  who  rose  and 
fired  a  volley  with  fatal  effect,  breaking  Wadsworth's 
formation,  the  men  fleeing  in  wild  confusion.  In  this 
Alabama  brigade  was  the  Eighth  Regiment,  com- 
manded that  morning  by  Hilary  A.  Herbert  who  lost 
his  arm.  This  gallant  man,  soldier,  member  of  Con- 
gress, and  distinguished  lawyer  was  Mr.  Cleveland's 
Secretary  of  the  Navy. 


308  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  A 

The  heroic  Wadsworth  did  not  or  could  not  check 
his  horse  till  within  twenty  odd  feet  of  the  Confed- 
erate line.  Then,  turning,  a  shot  struck  him  in  the 
back  of  the  head,  his  brain  spattering  the  coat  of  Earl 
M.  Rogers,  his  aide  at  his  side.  The  rein  of  Wads- 
worth's  horse,  after  the  general  fell,  caught  in  a  snag, 
and,  Rogers' s  horse  having  been  killed  by  the  volley, 
he  vaulted  into  the  saddle,  and  escaped  through  the 
'flying  balls.  Wadsworth  lies  unconscious  within  the 
enemy's  lines;  his  heart,  that  has  always  beaten  so 
warmly  for  his  country,  is  still  beating,  but  hears  no 
response  now  from  the  generous  manly,  truth-viewing 
brain.  I  believe  that  morning,  noon,  and  night  the 
bounteous  valley  of  the  Genesee,  with  its  rolling  fields 
and  tented  shocks  of  bearded  grain,  holds  Wadsworth 
in  dear  remembrance. 

Everything  on  the  right  of  the  Nineteenth  Maine, 
Fifty-sixth  and  Thirty-seventh  Massachusetts  is  gone, 
and  they,  with  fragments  of  other  gallant  regi- 
ments, will  soon  have  to  go,  too,  for  Sorrel  comes  on 
again  with  a  rush.  Griswold,  pistol  in  hand,  advances 
the  colors  to  meet  him,  and  is  killed  almost  instantly ; 
Connor,  on  foot  and  in  the  road,  is  struck  and,  as  he 
falls,  Webb  calls  out,  "  Connor,  are  you  hit?  "  "  Yes, 
I've  got  it  this  time."  And  his  men  sling  him  in  a 
blanket  and  carry  him  to  the  rear.  Webb,  seeing  the 
day  is  lost,  tells  the  bitterly-tried  regiments  to  scatter, 
and  the  wreckage  begins  to  drift  sullenly  far  and  wide, 
some  in  Cutler's  tracks,  and  some  toward  where  Burn- 
side  is  still  pottering;  but  naturally  the  main  stream 
is  back  on  both  sides  of  the  Plank  to  the  Brock  Road, 
and  there  it  straggles  across  it  hopelessly  toward 
Chancellorsville.  Chaplain  Washiell,  Fifty-seventh 
Massachusetts,  says,  "  I  well  remember  the  route  as 


CONFEDERATE  STAFF  OFFICER      309 

the  men  streamed  by  in  panic,  some  of  them  breaking 
their  guns  to  render  them  useless  in  the  hands  of  the 
rebels.  Nothing  could  stop  them  until  they  came  to 
the  cross-roads." 

Where  now  is  the  morning's  vision  of  victory  which 
Babcock  raised?  All  of  Hancock's  right  wing,  to- 
gether with  Wadsworth's  division  of  the  Fifth  Corps, 
Getty's  of  the  Sixth,  and  one  brigade  of  the  Ninth  all 
smashed  to  pieces!  The  Plank  Road  is  Lee's, —  and 
the  Brock,  the  strategic  key,  is  almost  within  his  grasp 
too!  For  Longstreet,  followed  by  fresh  brigades  at 
double-quick,  is  coming  down  determined  to  clinch  the 
victory!!  His  spirits  are  high,  and  Field's  hand  still 
tingles  with  his  hearty  grasp  congratulating  him  on 
the  valor  of  his  troops.  Jenkins,  a  sensitive,  enthusi- 
astic South  Carolinian,  "  abreast  with  the  foremost  in 
battle  and  withal  an  humble  Christian,"  says  Long- 
street,  has  just  thrown  his  arms  around  Sorrel's  shoul- 
der,—  for  the  graceful  hero  has  ridden  to  meet  his 
chief,  and  tell  him  the  road  is  clear, —  and  says,  "  Sor- 
rel, it  was  splendid,  we  shall  smash  them  now."  And 
then,  after  conferring  with  Kershaw,  who  had  already 
been  directed  to  follow  on  and  complete  Hancock's 
overthrow,  Jenkins  rides  up  to  Longstreet's  side  and 
with  overflowing  heart  says,  "  I  am  happy.  I  have 
felt  despair  of  the  cause  for  some  months,  but  am 
relieved  and  feel  assured  that  we  shall  put  the  enemy 
back  across  the  Rapidan  before  night."  Put  the 
enemy  back  across  the  Rapidan!  That  means  the 
Army  of  the  Potomac  defeated  again,  and  Grant's 
prestige  gone!! 


THE   END 


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